Music therapy is a unique and well-established healthcare profession that combines music and therapeutic experience to improve an individual's health and quality of life. Music therapy uses clinical, evidence-based music interventions to address the physical, psychological, cognitive, and/or social functioning of clients of all ages in a variety of settings. A music therapist (MT) is a specialized professional who practices in this field and who designs and adapts creative musical experiences to meet each client's individual needs, desires and therapeutic goals. An MT holds a bachelor's degree or higher from a college or university approved by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA). An MT has been educated in musical, clinical and music therapy fundamentals. In addition to academic coursework, the MT student completed 1200 hours of clinical training. After successfully passing the Certification Board for Music Therapy (CBMT) national exam, the graduate is awarded the Music Therapist-Board Certified (MT-BC) credential. MTs use their musical talents and therapeutic knowledge to create a nurturing, non-threatening environment that encourages self-expression and social interaction. Music therapists work with children, adolescents, adults and older adults. They serve clients in medical and psychiatric hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, schools, community centers, clinics, residential and retirement care facilities, and hospice programs. MTs use music as a therapeutic tool to treat a wide spectrum of conditions, including psychiatric disorders, medical problems, physical handicaps, sensory impairments, developmental disabilities, substance abuse, and age-related diagnoses such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. .. half of the article .......The positive results of music therapy are substantial. MTs have made great strides with autistic children. Structured music lessons helped these children make eye contact with others and communicate verbally and nonverbally in socially acceptable ways. Music therapy has been especially helpful for older adults. Listening experiences promote memory recall and reduce apprehension and loneliness. In older adults, songwriting provides clients with a means to express their feelings of life and death through composing a musical account of life. Regardless of age or musical background, every individual can benefit from music therapy. Working independently or as part of an interdisciplinary team, MT blends art and science, music and medicine to create experiences that facilitate physical and emotional healing and increased function.