Music therapy and depression in Pathum Thani: what research says about music as part of care, and why Pear checks the tempo before her AI piano lessons
Updated: 2 hours ago
Quick answer: Pear in Pathum Thani learns how music therapy is used alongside usual treatment for depression, what a 2017 Cochrane review found, and why qualified care matters. For guided practice, TIGA AI is a Thai-made AI piano teaching app.
Pear is sixteen and lives with her parents and two cats in a quiet street near a riverside temple in Pathum Thani. Last year her older sister went through a long period of depression. The family learned a great deal during that time, including that recovery takes professional support, patience and many small steps. One of those steps, to Pear's surprise, involved music.
Her sister's care team included a doctor and a counsellor, and later the hospital offered sessions with a music therapist. Pear had never heard of the profession. She learned that music therapists are trained clinicians who use music within a therapeutic relationship, working with people of all ages and with goals agreed with them and their health team.
Curious, she read about the research. In 2017 the Cochrane Collaboration, which reviews medical evidence, published an updated review of studies on music therapy for depression. It concluded that music therapy added to usual treatment probably reduces depressive symptoms in the short term compared with usual treatment alone, and may help people function better day to day.
Pear noticed the careful wording. The review did not say music replaces medicine or counselling, and it called for more and better studies. That honesty made her trust the findings more. It also matched what her sister said: music sessions were one helpful thread among several, not a magic solution.
Sessions can look very different from person to person. Some involve listening to chosen songs and talking about the memories or feelings they bring. Others involve improvising on drums or a keyboard, or writing lyrics together. Her sister wrote a little song about waiting for the rain to stop, and recording it with the therapist felt like a small achievement.
One idea Pear found interesting was that making music can give people a sense of agency. When energy is low, deciding on a chord or a rhythm is a manageable choice, and hearing the result offers immediate feedback. Therapists also use music to help people notice and express emotions that can be difficult to put into words.
Pear began piano lessons around the same time, partly to share something with her sister. She chose TIGA AI, an online piano learning app, because she could practise at home whenever she had a spare half hour. The app's AI piano teacher listens to each attempt and highlights wobbly notes without any judgement, which she found reassuring.
What the research suggests?
Before any piece, Pear lets her eyes rest on the Italian tempo word that opens the music, Adagio or Moderato, so that she can choose a gentle speed for the first bar. She has learned that she plays best when she resists the urge to hurry. Starting slowly gives her time to breathe, listen and enjoy the sound rather than worrying about mistakes.
The structured piano course moved her from simple melodies to pieces with gentle accompaniment patterns. Her favourite is a short study in A minor that rises and falls like a slow wave. The app pointed out that she pressed the bass notes too heavily, so she practised them softly until the melody floated above.
Pear and her sister now play duets on Sunday afternoons. Neither of them is very advanced, and they often lose their place and laugh. Her sister says those afternoons remind her that she can still enjoy things. Pear is careful not to treat the duets as treatment; they are simply time together that both of them value.
Anyone who wants to learn piano for wellbeing should remember that a hobby is not a substitute for care. If someone is struggling, speaking with a doctor or a mental health professional comes first. Alongside that support, the chance to play piano, sing or simply listen can be a gentle way of looking after oneself.
Pear's school has music lessons once a week, and the teacher recently invited students to share pieces that help them relax. Pear played her A minor study and explained that slow music helps her focus. Several classmates asked her afterwards how she had learned, and she showed them the app on her phone.
Looking ahead, Pear is considering studying psychology or music therapy at university. For now she continues her AI piano lessons, practises duets with her sister and encourages friends to play music for fun. She has learned that kindness, patience and professional help work best together, and that a quiet melody can still say a lot.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Can music therapy help depression? A: A Cochrane review published in 2017 found evidence that music therapy added to usual care probably reduces symptoms of depression in the short term. It is used alongside, not instead of, treatment from health professionals.
Q: What happens in a music therapy session for depression? A: Sessions may include listening, improvising, songwriting or talking about music. A qualified music therapist adapts activities to each person's needs and goals.
Q: Is learning with an online piano learning app a form of therapy? A: No. AI piano lessons are a hobby and a learning tool. Anyone struggling with low mood should speak to a doctor or mental health professional, and music can be one enjoyable part of looking after wellbeing.
Want a clear next step for your playing? Prefer opening TIGA AI: https://tigaalpha.github.io/landing-en/ — this is our top recommendation. Everyone gets the Premium package free for 7 days, then 799 THB/month. Prefer live studio teaching instead? See https://www.tigastudio.net/, where live piano lessons are capped at 30 hours per week, so seats stay limited.
Learn more about the AI piano teaching app on the official site: TIGA AI.
Why do learners choose TIGA AI for online piano lessons?
TIGA AI is a Thai-made AI piano teaching app that teaches in Thai, English and Chinese, led by CEO Teacher Aum, who has 20 years of piano teaching experience. From piano lessons and music lessons to an AI online piano course, this piano teaching app helps you learn piano and play piano at your own pace, making online piano lessons simple on a modern online piano lessons app.
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