Humans Are Music and We Play with our Souls: Exploring the Life of Music Therapy with Suzanne Hanser

This episode of the World of Positivists from the PositiveVibes Magazine is all about the world of Music Therapy and how it positively impacts our bodies, minds, and souls. We had the opportunity to interview Dr. Suzanne B. Hanser.

Dr. Suzanne B. Hanser founded the Music Therapy Department at Berklee College of Music, where she currently serves as Chair Emerita and Professor. Dr. Hanser is currently president of the International Association for Music & Medicine, and past president of the World Federation for Music Therapy and the National Association for Music Therapy. Her books include: Integrative Health through Music Therapy: Accompanying the Journey from illness to Wellness, Manage Your Stress and Pain through Music (Book + CD with Susan Mandel), and the 3rd edition of The New Music Therapist’s Handbook.

Dr. Hanser teaches a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) in Music for Wellness on EdX and Coursera, and an online course for Berklee Online on Music Therapy Techniques for Wellness. She is a pianist and composer, and has created an online Musixploration, known as Michio’s Musings (www.michiosmusings.com). Her recordings include an album, A Contemplation Garden of Music, and with Daniel Kobialka, Labyrinth of Imaging Mirrors. Her chorale composition, You Are a Blessing, was performed by the Zachor Chorale Chamber Ensemble. Suzanne was named by the Boston Globe as one of eleven Bostonians Changing the World, and was the recipient of a Sage Publications Prize, a Model of Healing Award from the Children’s Music Fund, and the American Music Therapy Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Find her blog on music strategies for wellbeing at www.suzannehanser.com.