The use of music as a healing influence to affect health and behavior is as least as old as the writings of Aristotle and Plato. However, the twentieth century discipline began during World War I, when both amateur and professional musicians of all types visited veterans' hospitals to perform for the thousands suffering physical and emotional war traumas.

The notable patient responses to music led doctors and nurses to request hospital hiring of musicians, but hospitals soon realized that musicians required training prior to entering medical facilities.

Michigan State University responded in 1944, when it offered the first music therapy degree program in the world.

In 1950, the National Association for Music Therapy (NAMT) chartered its membership. In 1971, the American Association for Music Therapy (AAMT) developed. And in 1998, the two groups joined forces to form the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA), now representing more than 5,000 music therapists, corporate members and related associations worldwide.

The AMTA mission is to advance public awareness of the benefits of music therapy and to increase access to quality music therapy services in a rapidly changing world. AMTA sets the educational and clinical training standards for music therapists, as well.

In 1985, the World Federation of Music Therapy, Incorporated (WFMT) formed to promote music therapy world wide.