The basic scheme of work in the discipline includes three aspects: the positive interaction between patient and other beings, self-esteem, and the use of rhyth as a source of energy and order.

Music therapy acts as a motivator for the development of self-esteem, with techniques that facilitate in the individual feelings of fulfilment, self-confidence, self-satisfaction and security in one's self. The rhythm, basic, dynamic, and potent element in music is the stimulus which guides psychomotor processes promoting controlled movement performance: displacements of the body to gain awareness of the environmental space that surrounds one's self.

This scheme of work is developed and directed by a music therapist. The therapist is a professional technically prepared to manipulate, create, and utilize music with therapeutic goals. Someone who has been trained in diverse disciplines Dutch as music, psychology, anatomy among others. His/her abilities should always be of highest quality possible for he/she always has to be ready to create music from any type of sound emitted by the patient.

Music therapists are responsible for the establishment of therapeutic goals according to the specific characteristics of the patient and for the preparation of activities. He/she should have the knowledge and understanding of illnesses that affect his/her patients and a mental flexibility with respect to the patient's musical taste.

Characteristics of music

Music has intrinsic characteristics which affect and influence people's mood state. Depending on the moment, the personal situation, the company,…it proceeds to listen to a type of music or another.

This is generalizable to the use of music as a therapeutic remedy. Depending on the patient's type of illness or disorder, music should posses certain characteristics. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that music is not the only responsible for therapeutic change but also the fact that therapy takes place in a specific and systematic context, where a therapeutic relationship based on help and attention develops between therapist and patient.