I was thrilled to see the Jan. 18 article on the proposed licensing board for music therapists and the effect of music therapy on patients. We are at the threshold of exploring the power of music to educate, heal and in fact change the nature of the brain which leads to other benefits of music therapy.
The CDC's estimate of a 600 percent increase in autism over the last two decades, a condition characterized by communication deficiencies, underscores the need for new ways to address language acquisition and communication. Music has been shown to do this in ways traditional methods have not.
We are very fortunate to have the local nonprofit Voices Together providing music-based programs for those with developmental disabilities. Specially trained music therapists work in several North Carolina counties in classrooms and community groups, using proven methods within a facilitated singing group to build communication skills and relationships among participants.
