"Is the goal of music therapy to teach rhythm?"

What a great question - asked by the father of one of my clients today. 
Also, a common misconception and what I think leads to the lack of understanding of what music therapy can do for young children with special needs. 
When a music therapist is working with your young child, the child's musical success is far from their mind. What is on their mind, you may ask? 
Gross and fine motor skills, communication, socialization, academic goals and beyond. 
As music therapists, we are working to achieve non-music goals. We use the music as a motivator, a safe place, and due to the fact that many children respond positively to music, it works. 
Music therapy is a research based, systematic process in which a trained music therapist uses music as an agent of change. Through the use of music, the client-therapist relationship develops to assist the individual(s) in attaining non-music goals for the improvement or maintenance of the persons well-being and/or health.
Why else should you choose music therapy? 
Music provides structure, assists in speech and language, provides a non-verbal form of communication and provides reinforcement. Music also provides sensory stimulation, an important aspect for so many. 

So, is the goal to teach rhythm? No. It goes way beyond that for your special needs child. 

For more information refer to www.musicalpathywaysct.com