Historical roots of Music Therapy: a brief overview

Abstract

Music has been used as a means of communication and healing since the beginning of mankind,Music Therapy, which involves the music therapist, the client and the music in an ever-evolving relationship, is rooted in the ancient literate societies. The purpose of this paper is to provide a brief historical overview of music therapy by illustrating the changing nature of the healer/ patient/ music triadic relationship throughout the centuries to the present-day, and the various factors influencing these changes.