I spent this last week wondering where to begin with this blog. When I posted the first post on facebook I was surprised and pleased by all the non-music therapists who checked it out and showed an interest. I had originally planned for this blog to be beyond the basics of music therapy and dig deeper into bilingual and multicultural music therapy but as Julie Andrews suggests, we shall start at the beginning (it is after all, a very good place to start).
What is music therapy?
According to the American Music Therapy Association, "Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program." Knowing there are whole books written on the definition of music therapy, you're probably more interested in what I would say to you if we were to meet in the hall or the elevator or at a party (this happens all the time).
At its core, music therapy is the use of music to help people. Of course music helps people in a million different ways, as evidenced by searching "music therapy" on Twitter, which undoubtedly overwhelms you with many many many tweets of "Dave Matthews is my therapy" or "music = therapy."
To call something "music therapy" though, you'll need a few key components, which are highlighted in the definition above...you need music (obviously) to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional.
According to the American Music Therapy Association, "Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program." Knowing there are whole books written on the definition of music therapy, you're probably more interested in what I would say to you if we were to meet in the hall or the elevator or at a party (this happens all the time).
At its core, music therapy is the use of music to help people. Of course music helps people in a million different ways, as evidenced by searching "music therapy" on Twitter, which undoubtedly overwhelms you with many many many tweets of "Dave Matthews is my therapy" or "music = therapy."
To call something "music therapy" though, you'll need a few key components, which are highlighted in the definition above...you need music (obviously) to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional.
Who is a music therapist? a credentialed professional
When I was in high school and trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life I knew how much music had helped me get through some rough patches in my life and I wanted in turn to use music to help people. I love asking other music therapists how they got into music therapy and basically everyone has the same story: I loved music, I had this profound thing happen in my life that music helped me get through, and I started searching for a way I could help other people with music.
For someone to call themselves a music therapist, they must become educated, trained, and certified. There are a couple different ways to become a music therapist:
1. Undergraduate Degree (your typical 4-year program)
2. Undergraduate Equivalency Degree (if you already have your undergrad degree in a related field, you can take the required undergraduate core music therapy classes without receiving a second degree)
3. Master's Equivalency Degree (this is what I did. I was nearly finished with my undergraduate degree in music when I decided to become a music therapist and instead of transferring away from the only place I had ever wanted to go to school, I completed my BA in music in August of 2005 and began my music therapy master's degree that very same month. Basically I was in master's level and undergraduate classes at the same time. Mind-boggling at times? Yes.)
There are, of course master's programs and doctoral programs in music therapy, and those may be pursued after becoming board-certified and acquiring clinical experience.
A typical music therapy curriculum involves the study of music, music therapy, psychology, biological, social, and behavioral sciences. I absolutely loved the balance that my music therapy education struck between music and science. A music therapy degree is a full-on music degree that includes training in theory, music history, your primary instrument, composition, arranging, conducting PLUS psychopathology, biology, physiology, and then all the music therapy educational components including principles of our practice, research, methods, and (my personal favorite) the psychology of music.
Included in music therapy training is clinical experience during coursework and a 6 month internship once coursework has been completed. These experiences train the student music therapist across various population settings which may include preschools, public schools, assisted living facilities, psychiatric facilities, hospices, hospitals, and everything in between.
Finally, when all the classes, clinical practica, and the internship is completed, you may then sit for the national certification exam. If you pass you have the credentials MT-BC or Music Therapist - Board Certified. Music therapists are certified by the Certification Board of Music Therapists.
Up next: therapeutic relationships and individualized goals
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask!
1. Undergraduate Degree (your typical 4-year program)
2. Undergraduate Equivalency Degree (if you already have your undergrad degree in a related field, you can take the required undergraduate core music therapy classes without receiving a second degree)
3. Master's Equivalency Degree (this is what I did. I was nearly finished with my undergraduate degree in music when I decided to become a music therapist and instead of transferring away from the only place I had ever wanted to go to school, I completed my BA in music in August of 2005 and began my music therapy master's degree that very same month. Basically I was in master's level and undergraduate classes at the same time. Mind-boggling at times? Yes.)
There are, of course master's programs and doctoral programs in music therapy, and those may be pursued after becoming board-certified and acquiring clinical experience.
A typical music therapy curriculum involves the study of music, music therapy, psychology, biological, social, and behavioral sciences. I absolutely loved the balance that my music therapy education struck between music and science. A music therapy degree is a full-on music degree that includes training in theory, music history, your primary instrument, composition, arranging, conducting PLUS psychopathology, biology, physiology, and then all the music therapy educational components including principles of our practice, research, methods, and (my personal favorite) the psychology of music.
Included in music therapy training is clinical experience during coursework and a 6 month internship once coursework has been completed. These experiences train the student music therapist across various population settings which may include preschools, public schools, assisted living facilities, psychiatric facilities, hospices, hospitals, and everything in between.
Finally, when all the classes, clinical practica, and the internship is completed, you may then sit for the national certification exam. If you pass you have the credentials MT-BC or Music Therapist - Board Certified. Music therapists are certified by the Certification Board of Music Therapists.
Up next: therapeutic relationships and individualized goals
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask!
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