Abstract
Music therapy was introduced already in 1950s in the US, when the American Music Therapy Association was established, and has been making a steady progress ever since. In Japan, doctors mainly specializing in psychosomatic medicine established the Japan Society of Biomusic Therapy in 1986 and music therapy has been adopted as one of the psychosomatic therapeutic methods. In 1995, the Japan Society of Biomusic Therapy and the Clinical Music Therapy Association made an alignment under the new name of the Japan Federation of Music Therapy. As a result, Music Therapy made a progress by the consolidated course and the federation was involved in the accreditation of music therapists and the publication of the curriculum for the specialty of Music Therapy. In April 2001, the two organizations were consolidated under the name of the Japan Music Therapy Association. In this article, the author will introduce Music Therapy which is conducted in the area of psychosomatic medicine both in foreign countries and in Japan and explain the progress of music therapy.
