Music Therapy is an established healthcare profession that uses
music to address physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs
of individuals of all ages. Music therapy improves the quality of life
of persons who are well and gives the much needed relaxation to
the people who are stressed . Music therapy can be
designed to:

     Promote wellness
     Manage stress
     Alleviate pain
     Express feelings
     Enhance memory
     Improve communication
     Promote physical rehabilitation

Research in music therapy supports its effectiveness in a wide variety of healthcare and educational settings.

The therapeutic characteristics of music

Music captivates and maintains attention, it stimulates and utilises many parts of the brain. Music is easily adapted to and can be reflective of a person's abilities. Music is an effective memory aid and it supports and encourages movements . Music and the silence within it provides nonverbal and immediate feedback.

Reasons to use music in medical settings    

To serve as an audioanalgesic or sedative, or to otherwise positvely affect biomedical or psychosocial states.

To serve as the focus of attention and to structure exercise

To initiate and enhance the therapist /patient/family relationships

To reinforce learning

To promote stress reduction

Music provides positive vibrations to people who suffer from anxiety, depression and schizophrenia. It helps to clear emotional blocks.

Music therapy is an emerging discipline in India.The existence of music therapy as a belief system and the integrated approach in treatment of deseases advocated by medical professionals in the clinical arena has made them turn favourably towards music as a promising therapy. The potential of the ancient healing roots or indian music like nadayoga, vedic chanting and ragachikitsa have been recognised by various medical professionals, psychologists, musicologists and music therapists, making them engage in more and more experimental studies which strengthen and vouch for the efficacy of Indian music and to make muisc therapy an
evidence-based practice.