In this article, I introduce a cultural approach to musical care by situating health, well-being, and music engagement within specific cultural meaning systems. While existing models of health, including biomedical, biopsychosocial, and socioecological models, have informed music therapy and related practices, they often carry universalist assumptions that overlook cultural diversity in health definitions and behaviors. Similarly, theorizing in music therapy has highlighted the importance of cultural humility, cultural empathy, and intercultural competence, yet has largely focused on therapist reflexivity without fully articulating how cultural insights can inform the design and implementation of music interventions. Drawing on cultural-psychological perspectives, I conceptualize culture as comprising both external conditions and internal psychological processes that shape how individuals experience health and well-being, as well as how they engage with music. Using examples of cultural match and mismatch in music therapy research, I argue that alignment between individual psychological processes, culturally grounded music practices, and culturally sanctioned health goals enhances therapeutic outcomes, while mismatches may limit effectiveness. Beyond outcome measures, a cultural approach requires attention to the diversity of ways people engage with music, including consumption, creation, and response, recognizing music's role in constructing identities and shaping understandings of health. I conclude that cultural match offers a promising direction for future research, advancing both theory and practice in musical care, underscoring the need for more robust, culturally responsive, and culturally sustaining research methodologies and interventions.
Jonathan Tang (Thu,) studied this question.