Depressive disorders in children and adolescents carry a high disease burden and have long-term adverse effects； however， current resources for pharmacotherapy， psychotherapy， and specialized services still fall short of fully meeting clinical and public health needs. Music therapy， a non-pharmacological intervention conducted by professionals within a therapeutic relationship and using music as a medium， has garnered attention in recent years as a treatment for depressive disorders in children and adolescents. This review focuses on the concept of music therapy， the distinction between related terms， its mechanisms of action， classification methods， and the current status of its application both domestically and internationally. Overall， the application of music therapy for depressive disorders in children and adolescents has been well accepted and shows potential clinical value. However， existing studies still face issues such as small sample sizes， high heterogeneity in intervention protocols， insufficient reporting on therapist qualifications and the intervention process， and limited follow-up periods. Future multicenter， large-sample， standardized randomized controlled trials are needed to further clarify music therapy， target population， optimal intervention dosage， and mechanism of action， thereby providing a basis for the standardized application of its efficacy in comprehensive interventions for depressive disorders in children and adolescents.