Who Wants to Be….A Music Therapist?
I often get asked what music therapy is. A main component of my explanation typically includes the relationship between the client and the music therapist. Music alone can be relaxing and beneficial to one’s health, but music therapy as a practice must include this therapeutic relationship. To be recognized as a professional music therapist in the United States, one must complete academic studies and clinical training. One must then pass the board-certification exam in order to become a Music Therapist-Board Certified (MT-BC).
The educational process of music therapy can be challenging, but incredibly rewarding (much like the practice itself). An aspiring music therapist must complete a bachelor’s degree or higher in music therapy by an AMTA (American Music Therapy Association)-approved program. While one does not need to be a virtuoso to become a music therapist, prior musical training is required. A music therapy program typically includes a combination of music theory, psychology, health sciences, music therapy foundations and techniques, and clinical training. While a student may enter the program with a background in trumpet, music therapist students are required to develop skills in piano, guitar, voice, and basic percussion instruments. Music therapy students also complete clinical training through various practicum placements.
After one completes their academic studies, they must complete 1,200 clinical hours of training. A small number of these hours will have been completed through practicum training prior to the start of internship. Internship sites come in a wide variety, as there are placements all over the country! In addition, internship populations vary from hospice to inpatient psychiatric to school systems. There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing an internship site (location, clinical population, budget, supervisory styles); it is highly recommended to take time choosing where you want to do a majority of your clinical training!
Finally, once all papers have been turned in and countless hours of playing “You are My Sunshine” have been completed, aspiring music therapists must take the board certification exam. The board certification exam is conducted by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT), which is a separate organization from AMTA. The exam covers most of what has been learned in academic and clinical training: music theory, music therapy principles, practical clinical scenarios, etc. Make sure to keep all of your old notes and textbooks as they will come in handy when studying for the test! To pass, one must answer at least 95 out of 130 questions correctly. The current first time passing rate is 74.1%.
Music therapy is a wonderfully rewarding and growing profession. If you or someone you know might be interested in pursuing a career in music therapy or learning more about music therapists, please visit AMTA’s website or contact us!
