How to become a music therapist?
Hi i'm a freshman student in high school and I was told to find out what classes would be necessary to become a music therapist. I'm interested in helping people (mostly kids and teenagers) who are going through a hard time through music. I know that a bachelor is necessary but what else? Google is literally changing every time I search it up I swear..... What classes do I need to take in high school? What college is best in New York state to help? I would really like to continue playing violin though... and a xc and track program. Thanks all!!
For APs I would take Psychology, English Literature and Composition, Music Theory, and Art History. These are the ideal but if you can't take all these APs then I would take some form of English Lit & Analysis, Psychology/Childhood Development, a foreign language, at least 2 music classes, Sociology and History.
Definitely take music theory (regular or AP). English and social studies classes that help you with analysis really help, and for being a therapist psychology and sociology are beneficial. Playing violin is great, having experience in multiple fields of music will definitely help.
Some majors that could lead to music therapy are Psychology, Music, and some schools even have Music Therapy tracks. NY has a lot of great schools:
Good ones for psychology: NYU, Columbia, Cornell, Barnard and Vassar are good, but costly. Honestly a lot of the SUNY schools like Binghamton and Buffalo are good there too. I also reccommend Stony Brook, Syracuse, and Fordham.
If you're looking to go to school for music, it's a little different as a lot of the tracks are meant to train you to be a professional musician. Nevertheless, here are some schools with good music programs in NY: Juilliard (duh), URochester, Manhattan College of Music, Ithaca and Nazareth. These were mentioned before, but Syracuse and NYU have good music programs.
Of course, Music Therapy isn't a very common, but some schools have it. NYU does have one, and that's probably as elite as you can get. Molloy and SUNY Fredonia also have good programs, as well as New Paltz and Nazareth. Good luck!
Okay thank you so much! Would music theory count as a music class?
Yes.
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