Music Therapy
Music therapy is one of 12 majors offered by Berklee, whose mission is to educate, train, and develop students to excel in music as a career. Students in the music therapy program learn to apply music's enormous force to improve the quality of life of individuals with special needs, including children and adults with disabilities.
The goals of the music therapy program are to:
- Enable students to integrate musical and interpersonal talents with the latest technology and today's music;
- Build careers devoted to helping others achieve their goals regardless of their personal limitations or challenges;
- Train savvy professionals in an interdisciplinary clinical team that can serve people through the life cycle, from infancy to older adulthood; and
- Apply the art and science of music therapy in assessing the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions.
If you're a board-certified, practicing music therapist with an interest in pursuing graduate studies, please browse our master of arts in music therapy section.
What Is Music Therapy?
Music therapy is the applied use of music to measurably improve people's lives by assisting them in making positive life changes. Music therapy is the functional and scientific application of music by a trained music therapist to enhance an individual's social, emotional, educational, and behavioral development. The music therapist is a credentialed, professional therapist and trained musician who generally functions as part of a treatment team in a medical, educational, or community-based program. He or she may also work as a private practitioner in a variety of clinical settings by developing contractual arrangements with therapy providers in diverse human service agencies and schools.
Where Do Music Therapists Work?
Music therapists work in a variety of clinical settings, including but not limited to psychiatric settings, general hospitals, skilled nursing and intermediate care homes, child and adolescent treatment centers, schools, and forensic and corrections centers. They are hired as music therapists, rehabilitation specialists, expressive arts therapists, recreation therapists, and even activity directors.
Who Becomes a Music Therapist?
If you are...
- a creative musician
- a problem solver
- an insightful helper
- an empathetic listener
- a keen observer
- a verbal and musical communicator
...then music therapy may be for you!