Part 1: What Are the Possibilities of Music Therapy? An Interview with

Nozomi Nagasaka Profile

MT-BC (Board-Certified Music Therapist by the Certification Board for Music Therapists)
Certified Music Therapist by the Japanese Music Therapy Association

Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Department of Vocal Music.
Completed the Music Therapy and Vocal Performance program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Graduate School of Fine and Applied Arts, School of Music.

In San Diego, California, she studied under Dr. Barbara Reuer, former president of the American Music Therapy Association, and gained experience in music therapy for wellness and palliative care, as well as drum circle facilitation.

Upon returning to Japan, she founded Rhythm in Life, aiming to help people create better lives through music, valuing the "Here and Now," emotions (joy, anger, sorrow, pleasure), and the power of resonance. She conducts clinical activities in welfare, education, medical settings, and local communities. Additionally, she teaches as a part-time lecturer at Musashino University and Tokyo Rissho Junior College, and as a drum circle facilitator, she works to help more people experience the power of music in local communities, corporations, and international conferences.

Her published works include "Music Therapist" (Shinsuisha) and translations such as "Music Therapist Handbook" (ATN Corporation) and "Together in Rhythm" (ATN Corporation).
http://rhythm-in-life.com/

What is Music Therapy? Exploring its Charms and Effects

Music can relax us, lift our spirits, and greatly influence our emotions.
So, what does it mean to utilize music as "therapy"?

This time, we interviewed Ms. Nagasaka, an active music therapist, about the basics of music therapy, its actual effects, and how to incorporate it into daily life. (Part 1)

Encounter with Music Therapy

First, could you please introduce yourself, Ms. Nagasaka?

Ms. Nagasaka:
Yes. I work as a music therapist. When I was a student, I majored in vocal music at a music university, and during that time, I learned about "music therapy." However, at that time, there were no universities in Japan where I could specialize in music therapy, so my first encounter was a single class I took.

What was the definitive moment that made you decide to become a music therapist?

Ms. Nagasaka:
Looking back, my memories with my grandfather might have been a big factor.
My grandfather suffered a stroke and had severe aphasia, barely able to speak, by the time I was born. But on New Year's Day, when my family gathered, drank, and got excited, and someone would say, "Grandpa, sing that song!" he would suddenly sing with incredibly clear words.

He couldn't speak normally, but he could somehow sing fluently. That scene was very shocking and mysterious to me when I was little, and I remember thinking, "Music is amazing."

Studying Abroad in America and the Development of Music Therapy

You mentioned that there wasn't a systematic place to study it in Japan at the time, but then you went to America, didn't you?

Ms. Nagasaka:
That's right. At that time in Japan, there were no schools where you could seriously study music therapy, and the prevailing style of learning was to enter the field and observe how your seniors worked. However, in America, music therapy could be studied at universities and graduate schools, and it had developed as a profession.

Is there a reason behind the development of music therapy in America?

Ms. Nagasaka:
A major catalyst was war. After major wars like "World War I" and "World War II," it was observed that soldiers recovering from injuries in hospitals often showed faster recovery when given comfort performances. This seemed to heighten interest in the relationship between music and therapy. And in 1950, the "National Association for Music Therapy" was established.

When you actually went to America and studied, did you notice any differences from Japan?

Ms. Nagasaka:
I really struggled with the English language barrier (laughs). But more than that, I realized anew that music is culture.
For example, I had no idea about the children's songs and hand-play songs that American children naturally sang. In Japan, you can sing the songs you heard when you were a child. But in America, it's not like that.
So, I deeply felt, "Music is part of our daily lives, and it accumulates naturally within us."

Also, when I work with people who can't speak or have no verbal output, I myself experienced not being able to speak well due to the language barrier during my study abroad. So I feel I understand their feelings a bit, or I can wait for them, or offer hints. I think it was a huge benefit that I experienced the opposite position firsthand, which helps me think of various approaches to get the other person to output.

What is the Role of a Music Therapist?

What exactly does a music therapist do?

Ms. Nagasaka:
I'm often asked, "Is it a job where you just play music for people?" but it's different from that (laughs).
The job of a music therapist is to interact with people by considering "what changes music can bring to the other person."

For example, let's say a child has difficulty holding a spoon. In a school music class, the goal would be "to develop knowledge and skills for playing musical instruments," but in music therapy, the goal is to facilitate some kind of change or encourage behavior through musical experiences, such as "being able to hold a spoon after enjoying playing musical instruments."

So it's not just about listening to music, but "what happens afterwards" that's important.

Ms. Nagasaka:
That's right. Even if it seems like "they're just singing, hitting instruments, or dancing together," that's not the real goal.

How to Become a Music Therapist? Qualification Requirements

What qualifications are needed to become a music therapist?

Ms. Nagasaka:
Now, Japan also has a well-established qualification system, and to obtain it, you need to clear several conditions.

● Piano and guitar playing skills (ability to read music, understanding of chords)
● Basic knowledge about target populations (children, elderly, people with disabilities, etc.)
● Understanding of music therapy theories and data

In particular, the target population for music therapy is wide-ranging, from children to the elderly, so the approach changes depending on the individual.

I see. But when you're actually in the field, aren't there many times when things don't go according to the textbook?

Ms. Nagasaka:
That's absolutely true. The situations of people with illnesses and disabilities are all different, so theory alone isn't enough.
That's why it's essential to gain practical experience and constantly think about "what is the optimal way to use music for this person?" to develop the ability to respond accordingly.

I also had an experience that was a big realization for me. Since my major in university was vocal music, I'm not as skilled at playing the piano as someone who majored in piano. There was a time in the field when I couldn't play a song requested by a patient smoothly. But then, a long-term patient called out, "It's okay to make mistakes, just get the rhythm right!" and everyone laughed, and we all sang cheerfully, and the atmosphere in the room brightened up. I deeply regretted being fixated on playing perfectly and not being able to draw out the patients' singing voices.

With such experiences, I tell the students aspiring to be music therapists that "in the field, a self-satisfying level of skill is less important than observing the other person and, based on their state, having an attitude of 'accompanying' them."

Summary of Part 1
So far, we've discussed the basics of music therapy, Ms. Nagasaka's motivation for becoming a music therapist, and her experiences in the field.
In Part 2, we will delve into practical music therapy methods and specific tips for incorporating music into daily life!

(*Part 2 will cover the following topics)
●Types of Music Therapy (Passive and Active)
●The "Iso Principle" of Music – What music is suitable when you're tired?
●Specific ways to incorporate music into daily life

Click here for Part 2: Harmonizing Mind and Body with Music – Practicing Music Therapy and Incorporating it into Daily Life

Recommended Music: Works supervised by Nozomi Nagasaka

"Music Therapist Supervised - Healing Classical Best for Regulating the Autonomic Nervous System"

You can listen to all tracks by clicking on the jacket.

◆Artist
Various Artists

◆Product Description
This ultimate healing classical work features a selection of blissful tracks for regulating the autonomic nervous system, curated, selected, and recommended by Nozomi Nagasaka, MT-BC (Board-Certified Music Therapist by the Certification Board for Music Therapists) and certified music therapist by the Japanese Music Therapy Association, from five CLOIX HEALING CLASSICS albums.
☆Supervisory statement by Nozomi Nagasaka included in the booklet

◆Tracklist
01. Debussy: Rêverie
02. Bach: Cello Suite No. 1, Prelude
03. Elgar: Salut d'Amour
04. Mendelssohn: On Wings of Song
05. Schumann: Träumerei from "Kinderszenen"
06. Schubert: Ave Maria
07. Bach: Prelude from The Well-Tempered Clavier
08. Dvořák: Humoresque
09. Vivaldi: "Winter" from The Four Seasons, 2nd movement
10. Debussy: Clair de Lune
11. Bach: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
12. Handel: Lascia ch'io pianga
13. Saint-Saëns: The Swan
14. Albéniz: Granada
15. Massenet: Méditation from "Thaïs"
16. Pachelbel: Canon
17. Chopin: Nocturne No. 2
18. Godard: Berceuse de Jocelyn
19. Grieg: Solveig's Song
20. Burgmüller: Angel's Voices