How Can Music Therapy Help Children? A Guide for Edmonton Families

If your child loves music, you may have noticed how naturally they respond to it. A favourite song can bring a smile, encourage movement, help them settle, or even inspire words and sounds.

Music therapy takes that natural connection with music and uses it intentionally to support a child’s individual goals.

As a music therapist working with children in Edmonton, Sherwood Park and surrounding areas, I use music to create a playful and supportive environment where children can communicate, connect, learn and grow.

What Is Music Therapy?

Close-up of piano keys used in music therapy sessions

Music therapy is much more than learning to sing or play an instrument. It is the purposeful use of music by a trained music therapist to support developmental, emotional, social, communication and physical goals.

Depending on the child, a session might include singing, playing instruments, movement, improvisation, songwriting or musical games.

And to a child? It often just feels like making music and having fun.

How Can Music Therapy Help Children?

Every child is different, so music therapy goals are individualized. Some of the areas we may work on include:

Communication and Language

Songs, rhythm and musical play can create natural opportunities for children to practise sounds, words, phrases, turn-taking and expressive communication.

Emotional Regulation

Music can provide structure and predictability while giving children a safe way to express themselves. Calming musical experiences, movement and familiar songs may also support regulation and transitions.

Social Skills

Making music together naturally involves listening, waiting, responding and taking turns. In individual or group music therapy, these experiences can help children practise social interaction in an engaging way.

Confidence and Self-Expression

There isn't one “right” way to participate in music. Children can make choices, contribute ideas and experience success in ways that work for them. These moments can help build confidence and encourage self-expression.

Motor Skills and Coordination

Playing drums, shaking instruments, moving to music and reaching for instruments can provide opportunities to practise coordination, motor planning and body awareness.

Close-up of an acoustic guitar used during children's music therapy sessions

What Does a Music Therapy Session Look Like?

This is one of the questions parents ask me most often.

There isn't one standard music therapy session because sessions are designed around the individual child.

We might sing a familiar song, play drums, explore the piano, move with scarves, practise stopping and starting, improvise together or use musical games to encourage communication and interaction.

The activity itself may look simple or playful, but there is intention behind what we are doing.

Does My Child Need to Be Musical?

Not at all.

Your child does not need musical training, and they don't need to be able to sing or play an instrument.

Music is the tool we use to work toward goals, not the goal itself.

Music Therapy in Edmonton and Sherwood Park

Adele Music Therapy provides individual and group music therapy services for children, as well as music therapy programming for schools and organizations in Edmonton, Sherwood Park and surrounding communities.

If you're wondering whether music therapy could be a good fit for your child, I'd be happy to connect with you and answer your questions.

Colourful percussion instruments used in children's music therapy sessions

Interested in exploring music therapy for your child? I'd love to hear from you.