Coram research highlights music therapy benefits for children

Music therapy can help vulnerable children develop confidence, self-esteem and social interaction skills, according to research published this week.

A three-year study of a music therapy service run by children’s charity Coram found that nine out of 10 children with profound communication, emotional and attachment difficulties showed improved concentration and attention skills.

Tiffany Drake, Coram music therapist and author of the research, said the study “provides important new evidence of music therapy’s effectiveness in supporting vulnerable children by enabling them to gain confidence, develop their communication skills and build better relationships. The children’s parents reported that music therapy for their child had a positive impact on family life at home.”

The charity hopes its model of music therapy could be sucessfully replicated by other organisations.

Dr Sebastian Kraemer, consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist at the Whittington Hospital, London said: “Music is our first language. I hope this research can promote the spread of music therapy for children from tier four specialist units to children’s centres and schools”.

More information

Coram

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