What Does a Music Therapist Do?

I'm really interested in combining music with helping people and I heard about music therapy. Can anyone explain what a music therapist does on a daily basis, and what kind of career path or education is required to get into this field?

Music therapy is an established health profession that uses music to address various physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. As a music therapist, your daily tasks can be quite varied and will heavily depend on your client's specific needs. The goal is to use music as a therapeutic tool to help clients achieve their therapeutic goals. These could include improving communication skills, expressing feelings through music, promoting physical rehabilitation, and managing stress, among others.

In a typical day, a music therapist might design and conduct therapeutic sessions that incorporate active music making, music listening, and discussion. They might work one-on-one with a patient, or hold group sessions. The setting could vary from hospitals and residential care facilities to schools and private practices. You'll use different interventions based on what suits the clients best - it could be songwriting, instrumental play, rhythmic and melodic exercises, or guided imagery with music.

In terms of education, to become a music therapist, you need to hold at least a bachelor's degree in music therapy from a program accredited by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA). These programs teach musical and clinical skills, and require a minimum of 1,200 hours of clinical training. Courses typically include music, biology, psychology, and social and behavioral sciences.

Upon graduation, you would then be eligible to sit for the national examination administered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT). Once you pass this exam, you will earn the credential necessary to practice as a professional music therapist - Music Therapist-Board Certified (MT-BC).

From there, music therapists can opt for specialization in certain fields like neo-natal music therapy, music therapy for Alzheimer's patients, or therapeutic singing. Advanced credentials, such as through a master's degree or PhD in music therapy, can lead to opportunities in research, academia, or administrative positions within clinical settings.

As with any career, the path may have its ups and downs, but if you're truly passionate about making a difference in people's lives through music, it can be a very rewarding career choice.