A female music therapist and little girl smile for a photo while holding guitars

Music Therapy Program

Easing Your Child's Health Journey with Music Therapy

Our music therapists are available to spend time with your child to make their healthcare journey brighter through therapeutic songwriting, active music making and other therapeutic interventions.

Meet our team

At Children’s National Hospital, clinically-trained music therapists in Child Life and Integrative Care Services work to support the psychological and physical well-being of children, families and staff members through music therapy interventions. Our music therapists improve your child’s hospital experience by:

Relieving anxiety
Reducing agitation
Supporting pain management
Improving coping skills
Providing developmental support

Healthcare providers play drums in a circle in the Healing Garden

Musical Interventions to Enhance Your Child's Well-Being

Music therapists work at the bedside with children of all ages (infants through adults) and all abilities. We choose specific interventions to target specific goals for your child or your family members. The interventions can be receptive or active depending on the patient’s current needs and abilities.

Music therapists can facilitate a wide array of interventions including music-assisted relaxation, therapeutic songwriting, lyric analysis and active music making.

The music therapists in Child Life and Integrative Care Services work with children in all inpatient units at Children’s National, except for Oncology/Hematology, which has its own dedicated music therapy team, and Psychiatry.

A young girl plays a ukulele while sitting in the Healing Garden

What is music therapy?

According to the American Music Therapy Association, “Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program. Music therapy interventions can address a variety of healthcare and educational goals: promote wellness, manage stress, alleviate pain, express feelings, enhance memory, improve communication, promote physical rehabilitation and more.”

Where else do music therapists work?

How can I find a music therapist outside of the hospital?

What kind of training/education do music therapists need?

Music therapists typically enroll in an AMTA-approved music therapy program. They earn a music therapy degree (bachelor’s degree or master’s equivalency). While working toward their music therapy degree, coursework may include education in music theory, psychology, anatomy and physiology, as well as guitar and piano training. When coursework is completed, they must fulfill 1,200 hours of supervised internship experience at an approved internship site. They must pass a board certification exam. To maintain certification, they then must get recertified by completing at least 100 Continuing Music Therapy Education (CMTE) credits every five years.

Can I do my practicum or internship with the Child Life and Integrative Care Services’ (CLICS) Music Therapy Program?

How can I support the Music Therapy Program?

You can donate new musical instruments and gear directly to the Music Therapy Program through our online wish list at Dr. Bear’s Closet. To help meet the current needs of the hospital, we recommend sorting the online wish list by the “music therapy” favorites! Scroll through the existing wish list to see other instruments we know our patients would love. Items will be directly shipped to the Music Therapy Program.