Playing Music Not the Same as Therapy

I was touched by “Thanks for the Melodies” (Nov. 8) and am confident that the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony’s project was well intended, lovingly executed and effective. As a music therapist and as a person who loves music, I know the value of live music can be enormous, multidimensional and lasting.

I was disappointed, however, by the blurring of the boundary between music performance and music therapy, the ethical issues this raises and by there being no mention of the professional discipline of music therapy.

More than 6,000 music therapists currently work with diverse clinical populations in a variety of settings in this country. Almost half of these serve older adults (many with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia) in nursing homes, psychiatric facilities, adult day health-care programs, hospitals, board and care homes and retirement facilities.

Music therapists are intimately familiar with the associative and other powers of music, are knowledgeable about brain functioning, including accessing long-term memory, and are trained and competent in the exploration and containment of the often powerful feelings evoked by such memories. Interventions are selected and carried out thoughtfully, with attention to the special needs, strengths and vulnerabilities of the consumer of music therapy services.

When a resident is told to “let the sound take you to the emotional places,” the person attending this directive has a responsibility to provide appropriate processing of such emotions.

Let us all who have a passion for music and talents to share continue to do what we do best, making certain that our roles remain within the scope of our professional training and practice.

LAURA KANOFSKY

Board-certified music therapist

Licensed clinical social worker

Santa Monica