Purpose: The purposes of this study were to identify the effect of music therapy on the physiologic index, anxiety and dyspnea of patients who are weaning from mechanical ventilators, and to compare the effects between western and Korean traditional music. Methods: The research format is repeated measures design. The subject group consisted of 21 patients being weaned from mechanical ventilators in a tertiary general hospital in Seoul. Each patient randomly received western music, rest, and Korean traditional music. Western and Korean traditional music were played on an MP3 head phone for 30 minutes. Patients get 30 minutes of rest between the 2 music styles and the rest period. Physiological indices, anxiety and dyspnea were measured before and after patients listened to both styles of music and the rest period. Anxiety and dyspnea were measured with a visual analogue scale. Results: Respiratory rates (RR), rapid shallow breath indexes (RSBI), anxiety and dyspnea decreased, and tidal volume (TV) increased after listening to Western and Korean tradition music in patients weaning from mechanical ventilators. Compared to western music, Korean traditional music yielded significant decreases in RR, RSBI, anxiety and dyspnea, and an increase of TV. Conclusion: Western and Korean traditional music would decrease RR, RSBI, anxiety and dyspnea and increase TV of patients who are weaning from mechanical ventilators. The effects are more pronounced in patients listening to Korean traditional music compared to western music.