How to become A Music Therapist

Music Therapists use music, the universal language that speaks even when words fail, to help clients overcome social, emotional or physical challenges and obtain peace.

• Neurological Music Therapist
• Music Rehabilitation Therapist

What do Music Therapists do?

A Music Therapist would typically need to:

• Use musical lessons and activities to enhance a client’s physical, mental and emotional well-being
• Assess each client and situation, using observation, medical records, tests and discussions with the client’s family and the client
• Determine the client’s musical interests and areas of strength & opportunity in collaboration with a team of relevant health care professionals
• Confer with the team and the client and agree on the goals and objectives of the therapeutic programme; develop a schedule that includes a range of artistic activities
• Participate actively in the sessions that include listening, instrument playing, interpreting, songwriting, musical entertainment and engaging in other activities with a lyrical base
• Use concepts from multiple disciplines such as speech & language therapy, physical therapy, nursing, medicine and psychology
• Encourage the client to use a range of accessible musical instruments and their voice to express themselves
• Offer musical support to the client and help them expand their self-awareness and self-esteem through reflective listening
• Encourage the client to explore sound and create a unique musical language that can be used as a means of effective communication
• Record therapy sessions with the client’s consent to assess the client’s musical and non-musical behaviour
• Use the recordings while consulting with the team of health care workers during the follow-up assessment and evaluation of the client’s response to the therapy
• Write up case notes and reports that include recommendations for further treatment; refer a client to another practitioner if a platform other than music seems more productive

Music Therapists usually work out of a music room equipped with a range of instruments and meet with their clients in the same place regularly. You may work out of your workspace or wherever your client is, such as a day centre or special school.

You will work with children and adults of all ages and social backgrounds, either one-on-one or in groups, in a range of clinical settings. The number of clients under a therapist’s care depends on their specific employment setting. The size of the work setting also determines whether you are part of an art therapy group or are the only therapist in the unit.

Sometimes therapists may need to assist patients physically or lift heavy objects such as wheelchairs. Apart from that, they are likely to travel to and from different workplaces during the week if they maintain service contracts with more than one facility.

Full-time Music Therapists typically work a 40-hour, five-day workweek, although working hours vary, for example, if you are working in a school. Self-employed professionals may also need to work evenings and during weekends to meet their clients’ needs.

Often, Music Therapists work part-time, combining music therapy with other jobs such as teaching or performance. Opportunities also exist in clinical work & research supported by charitable organisations and trusts. Self-employment is a standard option. 

Finding a new job might seem challenging. However, you can boost your job search by asking your network for referrals, contacting employers directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies.

Music Therapists are generally employed by:

• Private & Public Hospitals
• Caregiving Centres
• Senior Centres
• Nursing Homes
• Child Development and Children’s Centers
• Individual Clients
• Community Agencies
• Day Treatment Facilities
• Hospices and Related Outreach Organisations
• Prisons
• Rehabilitation Centres
• Schools & Nurseries
• Specialist Music Therapy Centres
• Charitable Organisations & Trusts
• Universities
• Shelters for Battered Women
• Pain & Stress Management Clinics

Professional associations and organisations such as the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function are crucial for a Music Therapist interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation.

Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• The need to be empathetic towards the client and their situation without carrying over the emotions into one’s personal life
• The physical toll on one’s body because of the long work schedules and the need to assist the patient or lift heavy musical equipment
• Ensuring steady earnings by taking up more than one job
• Misconceptions regarding music therapy and its benefits

Ideally, your academic program should include around 1,200 hours of fieldwork divided between healthcare and education facilities internships.

Most aspiring Music Therapists have significant voluntary or paid work experience, which does not involve music, with vulnerable people in the community to understand the ins and outs of this career. Look for part-time or summer jobs or volunteer at a health care facility.

Experience in dementia care, developmental difficulties, homelessness, hospice care, learning disabilities and mental health will also fetch you a place on a postgraduate training course. Internships, co-ops, volunteer work and part-time jobs with organisations that provide music therapy services will prove helpful.

Contact course providers for additional details on the type and amount of experience required. 

Some locations offer voluntary music-specific opportunities to provide live music to patients of all ages in a range of domestic and international health care settings.

Talk with people working in the music therapy field and participate in an observation of a music therapy session to offer further proof of your commitment to course providers and prospective employers.

Currently, there is more than one way to become a Music Therapist, although the World Federation of Music Therapy seeks to develop globally valid professional standards for its members.

Most Music Therapists hold a bachelor’s degree in music therapy, which requires proficiency in at least one musical instrument. In addition, the coursework in music, music therapy, biology, psychology, social & behavioural sciences and general studies helps you qualify for accreditation.

If you choose to go for a master’s degree in music therapy, make sure that the program will allow you to major in psychology. Applicants typically undergo an interview and an audition.

Some countries offer professional training programs at the master’s level lasting two years (full-time) or three to four years (part-time). They include clinical placements which cover a range of work settings and client groups. Prerequisites include considerable musical skills in addition to academic and personal skills. 

A strong background in music and the arts may help you get accepted in the training program even without a music degree or its equivalent, so begin building your proficiency in the two fields from an early age. 

Take a college preparatory curriculum while in high school. Study a musical instrument and gain optimum knowledge about music, musical instruments and musical theory.

Some course providers offer introductory courses for candidates interested in music therapy as a career. 

Since music therapy is aimed at a vulnerable population, applicants to any program will need to undergo enhanced security checks.

Be aware that entry requirements may vary between institutions. You will need to check with your favoured ones to make sure all bases are covered.

Accredited certification as a Music Therapist is mandatory; applicants with a bachelor’s degree, a specific number of supervised internship hours, and practical proof of appreciable musical skills can sit for the exam.  

Certification from an objective and reputed organisation can help you stand out in a competitive job market and allow you to become an independent consultant.

Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics.

Professionally qualified Musical Therapists with significant experience and consistently high-performance levels will have a fair chance at lucrative career advancement. Besides, you may choose to specialise in one or more areas of interest such as mental health, dementia, palliative care or child development.

You can progress from running supervised therapy sessions to applying for the position of Consultant Music Therapist and managing a team of colleagues. What’s more, you can take on additional supervisory and management duties as a Day Centre Manager. 

A steadily increasing clientele and consequent rise in earnings are the best proof of a freelancer’s career progression. You can look into opportunities for research if that kindles your interest or for teaching one of the approved music therapy courses.

Publish or edit articles and books on music or creative arts therapies, work as a professional musician, or add another specialism such as art, dance or drama therapy to your resume and enhance your professional career.

Candidates who have a bachelor’s degree in music therapy and accredited certification, specialise in working with older adults, and are willing to relocate may have the best job prospects.

Certified Music Therapists must renew their certification regularly by completing continuing education credits or retaking the certification exam. 

Those who need to register themselves with a regulatory body must also renew their registration periodically by keeping a record of their continuing professional development (CPD) activities such as supervised therapy sessions, in-service training, peer review, discussions with colleagues, involvement in a professional body, presentation at conferences, top-up courses, submission of papers to a journal, undertaking research or lecturing as well as reading professional journals and news articles.

You could also undertake a doctoral program in music therapy to develop your knowledge in a particular area. 

It all Began…

Music has been recognised and revered as a fount of positive emotions since times immemorial. Still, it was only during the first and second world wars that health care professionals truly realised the healing powers of music. 

Amateur and professional musicians visited hospitals for veterans across the globe and played for the thousands undergoing treatment for physical and emotional wounds caused by the wars. 

Once it became evident that the formal sessions conducted by Music Therapists did wonders for the physical and mental well-being of the war veterans, it was only a matter of time before music and other creative art therapists began to help treat and rehabilitate patients in different health care settings.

Tools of the Trade

The most commonly used instruments are the guitar, drums & percussion, and keyboard, although others may also be used.

Without Exception

Music Therapists work with premature infants, young children, adolescents, adults and senior citizens in individual, group or family sessions. They tailor the therapy to suit the needs of the client or group.

In Tandem

Whether they work with a single client or a group, Music Therapists work as part of a multidisciplinary team including physicians or surgeons, registered nurses, psychologists, social workers, physical therapists, teachers or occupational therapists.

Take into Account

Factor in expenses towards room rental, heating & lighting, indemnity insurance, maintenance of instrument stock, travel, supervision and meetings while deliberating and deciding on a suitable rate for therapy.

Music - The Magical Healer

Music Therapists treat people with mental health issues, learning and developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, brain injuries, conditions related to ageing, substance abuse problems as well as acute and chronic pain. 

They can stimulate long- and short-term memory in patients with Alzheimer’s and reduce agitation by playing songs from their past. 

A patient with a physical disability can improve their dexterity by playing a keyboard or xylophone; walking to a musical selection helps their balance and gait.

Drumming reduces stress and regulates the heartbeat. Music can help control pain and improve postoperative outcomes. Music also decreases feelings of isolation and lack of control; it can open up spiritual vistas and help access and release repressed emotions.

Safety First

Music Therapy will have served its purpose when the individual client or client group feel emotionally and physically safe in that environment. The therapist ensures there are no musical triggers that may create emotional trauma and no sharp implements that could be used as weapons and cause physical harm. 

Potential Pros & Cons of Freelancing vs Full-Time Employment

Freelancing Music Therapists have more flexible work schedules and locations. They have full ownership of the business and can select their projects and clients. However, they experience inconsistent work and cash flow, which means more responsibility, effort and risk.

On the other hand, a full-time Music Therapist has employer-sponsored health benefits, insurance, and retirement plans. They have job security with a fixed, reliable source of income and guidance from their bosses. Yet, they may experience boredom due to a lack of flexibility, ownership, and variety.

When deciding between freelancing or being a full-time employee, consider the pros and cons to see what works best for you.

A 2013 study proved the existence of music-evoked autobiographical memories; familiar songs from their lifespan can stimulate associated personal memories even in an individual with a brain injury.

Music Therapists put together a therapeutic setting that incorporates sound and rhythm in a shared musical experience to engage clients and facilitate comprehensive positive changes.

“Patience, empathy, imagination, tact, openness to new ideas, a sense of humour and creativity are important qualities for professionals in this profession.”