Wylie-based music therapist Daniel Tague’s new book “Music for the Heart” is available in physical and e-book form on Amazon. Courtesy photo

Music is for more than just the ears according to a local music therapist’s latest book. In “Music for the Heart,” Wylie resident Daniel Tague brings 25 years of music therapy experience and research to provide individuals with practical steps to begin using music therapy in their own lives. Released in November, the book breaks down 10 music therapy methods for improved health.

“Every chapter is about, ‘How do you use music more efficiently, more intentionally in your life to help you have a better life,’” Tague said.

Music therapy is the application of music to help people achieve nonmusical goals, as generally defined by Tague. An example he provided involves using music to help students focus, memorize and communicate better as opposed to a rarer case of students learning how to play an instrument through music therapy. Music therapists can make plans to serve specific needs, such as autism or pre-operation stress, but they can help anyone. Ultimately, Tague said the role music therapy plays depends on the setting and the individual.

“It’s not a teaching thing, although in some cases we might use teaching music to help with something else; it might be with social skills development,” he said. “It’s all based around the music, but it’s usually for nonmusical objectives.”

Music therapists often play instruments live for clients, but recorded music is also important to the practice.

By Allison LaBrot

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