The Healing Power of Music: An Overview and Resources Guide for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Modalities

Abstract

In my career, I have been fortunate to be able to move from being a librarian, to Associate Dean for a major university campus and now to my current position as Professor and Associate Dean for a brand new school, the Indiana University School of Informatics at Indianapolis. Yet I also have a desire to serve the community as well as an interest in music that has spanned nearly 40 years of participation in bands and orchestras. For many months, I questioned how I could use music to serve in more personal fashion than as a member of a larger group. Fortunately, while browsing in a music store, I discovered The Healing Musician by Stella Benson, which describes the emerging field of therapeutic or “healing” music. Around the same time, I noticed an ad in Early Music America for the Music for Healing and Transition Program (MHTP).