MUSIC THERAPY &
RECOVERY
Music therapy is a supportive and evidence-based approach to rehabilitation for individuals recovering from stroke, brain injury, or experiencing memory loss.
Through engaging and personalized music activities, sessions help improve speech, movement, memory, and emotional well-being. By activating different areas of the brain, music therapy promotes healing and neuroplasticity while also fostering joy and connection. Each session is tailored to meet the individual’s unique needs and goals, creating meaningful opportunities for progress and improved quality of life.
In rehabilitation settings, music therapy can provide an engaging, structured way to support recovery following traumatic brain injury or stroke. Rhythm, melody, singing, and active music-making can help engage attention, memory, speech and language, motor planning, and coordination while providing meaningful opportunities for repetition and practice. Musical experiences can also support emotional expression and regulation as individuals adjust to changes in communication, movement, independence, and identity.​
Research shows that music therapy can support recovery following stroke and acquired brain injury by engaging motor, cognitive, language, sensory, and emotional systems in meaningful and motivating ways. Rhythm, melody, singing, and active music-making provide structured opportunities for repetition, practice, and participation, while allowing therapists to individualize interventions to each person’s abilities and rehabilitation goals. Music therapy can also make rehabilitation more engaging, supporting motivation and participation throughout the recovery process. Research shows measurable gains in:
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Motor function, including gait and upper limb movement
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Motor control, coordination, and motor planning
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Speech and language production
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Word finding, naming, and verbal repetition
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Everyday communication
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Attention, memory, and cognitive functioning
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Initiation and participation in rehabilitation activities
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Sensory processing and perception
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Emotional expression and regulation
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Anxiety, depression, and overall emotional well-being
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Motivation and adherence to rehabilitation
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Social interaction and meaningful engagement
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Overall functional recovery and quality of life
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Arsovski, D. (2024). The benefits of music therapy in stroke rehabilitation: A systematic literature review. Multidisciplinarni Pristupi U Edukaciji I Rehabilitaciji, 6(7), 113–123. https://doi.org/10.59519/mper6112
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Burns, J., Healy, H., O’Connor, R., & Moss, H. (2024). Integrative review of music and music therapy interventions on functional outcomes in children with acquired brain injury. Journal of Music Therapy, 62(1). https://doi.org/10.1093/jmt/thae017
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Liu, Q., Li, W., Yin, Y., Zhao, Z., Yang, Y., Zhao, Y., Tan, Y., & Yu, J. (2021). The effect of music therapy on language recovery in patients with aphasia after stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurological Sciences, 43(2). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-021-05743-9
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Matziorinis, A. M., & Koelsch, S. (2022). The promise of music therapy for Alzheimer’s disease: A review. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1516(1), 11–17. https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.14864
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Wang, J. (2025). Music therapy for occupational stress management: A primary prevention strategy against chronic diseases in working populations. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 69(2), 107910. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2025.107910
Music therapy is an evidenced-based approach to therapy that uses age-appropriate music activities to work toward individualized goals.
Music therapy is different from other therapies because music can be processed in almost every area of the brain. This means music therapy can accommodate lots of goals within one session.
Best of all, the most significant outcomes occur when each child is using their favorite songs and music activities, so it feels like play! When kids are relaxed and having fun, they’re most receptive to learning and practicing new life skills.
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To read more about music therapists' training and education, head to the blog.