Welcome to the Case Studies Learning Hub!

The magic of music therapy comes from the little moments--the times when a child says her first word, a boy reaches out to play the guitar when nothing else could soothe him, or a man is able to express his inner turmoil by playing it out on the guitar.

Music Therapy is truly amazing, and here you can learn about those small but significant moments that we experience with our clients every day.

Music Therapy Success Stories: Helping a Girl Memorize Her Address

Music can help kids memorize more than just the ABC’s. In this case, music therapy helped a girl with a seizure disorder learn her address in a fraction of the time it took without music. Several years ago I worked with a teenage girl with a seizure disorder and developmental delays. I provided music therapy..

The Power of Music: A Personal Experience with Grief and Loss

I wrote this several years ago after the passing of one of my students. It was a tender experience, and one that was deepened through the power of music–just not in the way I had anticipated. I have a heavy heart tonight. A couple days ago I heard that one of my former students whom..

How Rhythm Helped a Boy Go From Saying 1 to 6 Words At a Time

Tommy was one of the most friendly, talkative, and animated students I’d ever worked with–an absolute delight! I thought he would made a great Captain Hook for our school musical, but I was surprised when I discovered his unique challenge. School musicals at Jordan Valley were quite the production. We were made up of 150..

Music Therapy Success Stories: Procedural Support for an Adult with Brain Injury

The use of music during a procedure can  reduce the tactile neurons to help the patient experience less pain. Here’s a little bit about how and why it works. Sitting up in bed, her eyes were locked on mine as she mouthed the words, “West Virginia, Mountain Mama”. The music therapist stood bedside as the..

Success Stories Music Therapy: Helping a Man with Depression Release Emotions

Music attached sound to his feelings, and in doing so it pulled the intensity of emotion out from inside of him, giving him a moment of peace. He asked if he could play a song he wrote on the guitar. Relieved at the chance to make music, he pulled the strap over his shoulders and stood to play. Admitted..

Music Therapy in Early Intervention: Case Study with a 2 Year old Boy with Seizures

In music therapy we were able to celebrate and maximize what this boy COULD do rather than focus on his disabilities. During music therapy he connected with his peers and showcased more of his true self. The director of an early intervention program approached me about adding an additional student to our music therapy group. The..

Music Therapy Case Example: 1 Year Old with Down Syndrome

Music Therapy plays a significant role in the development of children with special needs. Here’s how it helped “ignite” the brain of a little boy with Down syndrome. During a trial session a mother of a young boy with Down’s syndrome was skeptical about pursuing music therapy services. Having a background in special education, she..

Helping a Boy with Williams Syndrome: Speech & Music Therapy Collaboration

Speech Therapy and Music Therapy blend together beautifully. Using them in tandem can help children make significant progress! I got a call a few months ago from a Speech Therapist who was working with a 3 year old boy with Williams Syndrome. He was nonverbal and had frequent meltdowns during speech therapy, making it difficult..

Music Therapy Success Stories with Special Needs Children

Children with special needs make significant gains with music therapy. Here are a few examples. In all honesty, “Music Therapy Success Stories” is a hard subject for a post–and not because the stories are hard to find. Quite the contrary, actually. There are thousands and thousands of touching stories of music therapy with special needs children that..