Music lessons on prescription? The impact of music lessons for children with chronic anxiety problems

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the potential role of music lessons as part of a treatment programme for children diagnosed as having severe chronic anxiety disorders. The findings are presented as a series of individual case studies based on the recorded observations of the children, parents, music‐teachers and family therapists. Over the period of a school year five children were recruited to receive lessons on an instrument of their choice from an experienced professional music‐teacher. Music lessons were credited with improvements in feelings of efficacy and self‐confidence, increased social ease and independence, new opportunities to express creativity and emotional feelings, and control over intrusive thoughts and feelings. Normalisation of the therapeutic environment, combined with freedom from parental pressure to succeed, appears to emerge as a key feature of the success of the project. The findings indicate that music lessons on prescription may offer a useful complement or alternative to therapy for difficult and complex childhood anxiety disorders.

Citation

Walker, J. and Boyce‐Tillman, J. (2002), "Music lessons on prescription? The impact of music lessons for children with chronic anxiety problems", Health Education, Vol. 102 No. 4, pp. 172-179. https://doi.org/10.1108/09654280210434246