Many magazine articles have come out over the years articulating the  results of numerous  studies that prove the benefits of music therapy. Two such studies are examined below:

A new study came out in “Science Daily,” an online source for the latest research news. It discusses a study that suggests that music therapy sessions can improve behavior in children living with autism. This study was reported in Pertanika journal. The study was conducted over a ten month time period in which hour-long sessions of music therapy were conducted on two groups of children with autism, 2-11, and 11-22. Their behaviors were measured using a target behavior checklist developed especially for the study. Behaviors such as restlessness, aggression toward other children, noisiness and tantrums improved by one or two points in more than half of the each group.

Another study conducted by researchers at the University of Jyväskylä in Finland found a connection between music therapy and its ability to alleviate depression. This was written about in an article on a website entitled News Medical Today by Catharine Paddock. 79 people of working age were recruited to receive 60-minute sessions of individual music therapy plus standard care, which includes anti-depressant medication.  Trained music therapist played a mallet or percussion instrument in a one-on-one session with the patient. The participants were clinically assessed before and after the study (within 3 months and then 6 months afterwards).  After  3 months, “ the participants receiving music therapy and standard care showed greater improvement than those receiving standard care only in symptoms of depression .They ultimately concluded that:

“Individual music therapy combined with standard care is effective for depression among working-age people with depression. The results of this study along with the previous research indicate that music therapy with its specific qualities is a valuable enhancement to established treatment practices. ”

This is significant as it bolsters the claim of music therapy’s ability to improve the mental health of an individual for whom it is conducted upon. The study also found that these results only lasted while the sessions were ongoing. Ultimately the article elucidates the “cathartic” qualities of music therapy. While these patients may not be able to fully express themselves, these emotions were released through the music therapy sessions as displayed with their drumming along.