Harnessing music psychology and music therapy to support social and emotional development in children

JANOS FABIAN, DIRECTOR OF MUSIC, ST EDMUND’S SCHOOL, UK; PHD MUSIC PSYCHOLOGY RESEARCHER, UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS, UK Music has long been recognised for its power to evoke emotion and facilitate human connection. In recent years, research has increasingly highlighted the role of music psychology and music therapy in supporting children’s social and emotional development (Rus et al., 2024). By integrating music into educational and therapeutic practices, caregivers and educators can foster emotional regulation, empathy, social skills and resilience in young learners (Gold et al., 2019). Music stimulates multiple areas of the brain, enhancing cognitive, emotional and social functions (Koelsch, 2014). Recent studies from the fields of education, music and psychology have found that engaging with music can modulate stress responses and improve mood regulation (Magee, 2016). In children, these effects are especially pronounced, aiding in the development of neural pathways associated wi