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History 
Music therapy, dating back to preliterate medicine where it was used
for healing rituals, and has an extremely long and interesting
tradition. Pythagorus, considered the father of music therapy,
was known to prescribe music, along with diet, to restore and
maintain harmony of the body and soul.
Ancient Egyptians used music to influence the fertility of women, while David used the harp to aid in sleep and alleviate the depression of King Saul. Ancient Hebrews and Greeks as well as the Romans, used music for various ailments including indigestion, insomnia, and mental disorders. Confucius, Plato, Aristotle, Hippocrates were all known to write about the benefits of music on the sick.
During the Renaissance, music was used by physicians to treat depression in European kings. Certain American Indian tribes have used music, along with dance, to drive away the "evil spirit" in order to heal. (Henry 1995) More recently, Florence Nightingale , in the 19th century, described certain types of music as beneficial, and others as harmful to a hospitalized patient - "wind instruments, including the human voice, and stringed instruments, capable of continuous sound, have generally a beneficent effect- while a piano playing forte will damage the sick" (Reilly 1999). As quickly as music became recorded, it was used at the bedside. In the late 1800s, music was used to induce sleep, allay anxiety associated with surgery, and assist with local anesthesia. After WWII, music was used for veterans who were "shell-shocked", wounded, and disabled. (Johnston 1996) During this time community musicians circulated among thousands of veterans suffering both physical and emotional trauma from the wars. Numerous doctors and nurses witnessed the effect music had on veterans' psychological, physiological, cognitive, and emotional state. These positive responses to the music therapy led to the request of the hospitals hiring musicians for being a part of the regular care. The first music therapy undergraduate degree program was founded at Michigan State University in 1944 and the first graduate degree program at the University of Kansas. In 1950, a professional organization was formed by a collaboration of music therapists that was working with the veterans, mentally challenged, those who were hearing/visually impaired, and also those with psychiatric issues. This organization became known as the National Association for Music Therapy. In 1998 this organization merged with the American Association for Music Therapy (1971) and together they now form The American Music Therapy Association.
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