The University of Alabama is the only school in the state with a program and degree for Musical Therapy.  Department heads and professors run clinicals at various facilities as part of the degree requirements and to further their research.  In recent studies they have discovered playing live, simple, and structured music can actually lower stress levels in adults and children.  In premature babies, musical therapy also decreases the amount of time many infants must stay in the hospital.  Practicioners say the difference musical therapy can make in a patient's life is visible and recognizable, while it can also provide financial benefits for hospitals and insurance providers.