Cultural Relevance as a Missing Pillar in Global Music Therapy Practice

This preprint presents a professional insight commentary addressing a significant yet frequently overlooked gap in global music therapy practice: the scarcity of indigenous and culturally specific musical resources within therapeutic settings. Although music therapy has expanded internationally, much of its applied repertoire remains anchored in Western classical traditions, which may limit therapeutic efficacy for clients whose auditory expectations and cultural identities are shaped by non-Western musical systems.

Drawing on scholarship from music cognition, cultural relevance, and personalised intervention, the commentary discusses how culturally familiar musical structures, such as modes, rhythms, and timbres, can enhance emotional accessibility, strengthen the client’s sense of identity and support more effective therapeutic outcomes. Examples from Middle Eastern, South Asian, African, and East Asian contexts illustrate how indigenous music can activate deep emotional memory and foster a greater sense of belonging, particularly for diaspora and migrant communities.

The aim of this preprint is to highlight the need for broader access to diverse musical materials, more inclusive therapeutic repertoires, and greater attention to cultural specificity within training and practice. By addressing this gap, music therapy can move towards a more equitable, relevant and effective global profession.