What does a Music Therapist do?
Music therapists are highly trained, board-certified practitioners who work with a wide variety of individuals to help manage pain, reduce stress, express emotion, enhance memory, improve communication, and promote physical rehabilitation. Their patients include those with developmental disorders, mental health disorders, neurological conditions, trauma, and other medical needs. Working alone or alongside peers in other therapeutic specialties, music therapists assess their patients, establish individual goals to pursue, and then design music-based interventions to meet those goals.
At a Glance
Most aspiring music therapists start by earning an undergraduate degree in music therapy. As part of the degree, music therapy students complete 1,200 hours of clinical training with a variety of populations, including a specialized internship at a site that meets the standards of the American Music Therapy Association. After graduating, they take a certification exam—administered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists, or the CBMT—to earn the credentials necessary to practice professionally.
Music therapists are employed in a wide variety of settings, including medical, mental health, hospice, rehabilitation, educational, and correctional facilities. Additionally, they may be employed in nursing homes, community centers, nonprofits, private practices, and independent music therapy companies.
Clinical musicianship on guitar, piano, percussion, and voice; songwriting; arranging; client assessment; establishing therapeutic relationships; treatment planning; research; foundations in music (theory, history, and conducting)
This is a field where strong interpersonal skills are vital. The best music therapists are exceptionally perceptive when assessing a patient's needs and designing creative music-based experiences.
Music therapists work different hours depending on their employment situation. A music therapist who works for a school may observe traditional daytime business hours, while one who works at a hospital, private practice, or community center may have a less consistent schedule.
