The Role of Movement in Music Therapy: A Therapist’s Perspective

Integrating movement into music therapy sessions provides a holistic and engaging approach to support clients' physical, emotional, and cognitive goals. Movement paired with music stimulates multiple sensory modalities, including auditory, visual, tactile, and proprioceptive systems. This means clients engage their senses simultaneously, creating richer neural connections that enhance therapeutic outcomes. Rhythm, a core element of music, mirrors the natural rhythms of the body, such as the heartbeat, and serves as a starting point for incorporating movement that fosters growth and development.

Movement in music therapy can target diverse goals, such as improving motor coordination, promoting relaxation, or fostering social interaction. For clients with physical challenges, music-movement interventions, like mirroring or using props such as scarves and drums, can encourage gentle exercise and motor skill development. Rhythmic entrainment, the synchronization of movement to a musical beat, is particularly effective for individuals with Parkinson’s disease, stroke, or developmental delays, as it supports gait, timing, and coordination.

From an emotional standpoint, movement enhances the expressive potential of music. For individuals who are non-verbal, movement serves as a vital form of communication and self-expression, allowing them to convey emotions and ideas through physical actions. Free movement improvisation also allows clients to externalize feelings that might be difficult toverbalize, facilitating emotional release and self-awareness. Additionally, combining music andmovement creates opportunities for social engagement, particularly in group settings, where synchronized movements foster a sense of connection and belonging.

The therapist’s role involves tailoring activities to meet individual needs and preferences. Whether incorporating subtle gestures (e.g., finger tapping or gentle sway) or dynamic actions (e.g., dancing or interactive drumming), movement bridges the mind and body. This holistic integration enriches the therapeutic process, promoting overall well-being and growth.

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Registered Music Therapist 

Sammy Chan

Sammy Chan is a Registered Music Therapist, based and trained in Melbourne, Australia. He has had experience in a range of contexts, including individual and group work with NDIS participants, children in schools, children in hospital and residential care for the older population. Sammy believes in enabling people through their own strengths and resources. He cherishes the connections he forms with people through music therapy and looks for respectful and meaningful collaboration with everyone he works with. Sammy speaks English, Cantonese and Mandarin.