Becoming a Music Therapist: How You Can Use Your Love of Music to Help Others
When it comes down to it, what really makes the dream of Sophie’s Place work, is the incredible board-certified music therapists who work at all of the locations. So how did they gain the skills they have? The road to this unique career path starts with a passion for music and helping others, and seeking out a college that has a certified music therapy program.
The Importance of Education
The typical path to becoming a music therapist starts with- you guessed it- a Bachelor’s degree in music therapy. There are currently 80 schools in the US with approved music therapy programs all around the country and this number continues to grow. As evidence-based research increases regarding the clinical benefits of this specialized integrative care we find the need for certified music therapists growing exponentially. This is a great opportunity for those interested in pursuing the profession. The Bachelor's degree includes 4 years of study as well as 1,200 hours of clinical training, which includes a supervised internship at an accredited site. Music therapists in training go all over the country for their internships and learn amazing things. Some music therapists go on to receive a Graduate degree as well and those programs focus on more advanced clinical practices and research. People wanting to study music therapy can even earn a doctorate degree!
The Exam
After all of this, however, you are not quite ready to be a practicing music therapist. Practicing music therapists must pass a board exam to become a MT-BC (Music Therapist- Board Certified). This exam is given by the CBMT, the Certification Board for Music Therapists. This exam gives the person taking it an opportunity to display the skills they have learned in their schooling and demonstrate that they are ready to practice.
Are there any other paths to becoming a music therapist?
For those who may have trouble getting to a school with a music therapy program, there is another way! There is a master equivalency path to becoming a music therapist. Someone may have an undergraduate degree that would complement a master in music therapy degree such as: music performance or psychology, for example. They would get their degree and then apply and be accepted into a master equivalency program. Once they are accepted and complete the necessary coursework, internship, and pass the board exam, they will then obtain their MMT (Master in Music Therapy) and become a MT-BC!
Other Certifications
There are other certifications board-certified music therapists can earn as well, such as GIM, NMT, and NICU MT. GIM stands for Guided Imagery in Music and involves using music intentionally to guide individuals through an experience to be more connected with oneself. NICU MT stands for Neonatal Intensive Care Music Therapist and means a music therapist who is trained to use interventions specifically with neonates to improve tolerance to stimulation and developmental growth. NMT stands for Neurologic Music Therapy and it is when a music therapist uses interventions to positively stimulate various areas of the brain to elicit a response, such as movement or speech.
What’s Next?
Once music therapists become board-certified they can be found working in a number of places. While here at Sophie’s Place we focus on pediatric music therapy, music therapy can be beneficial to patients in a large variety of settings. Some music therapists work in nursing homes with patients with dementia or other ailments. Some music therapists work in schools, especially with children with special needs. Some music therapists even start their own practices and work with a number of patients who struggle with anything from PTSD to things like physical ailments in which learning to play an instrument could assist in their fine motor skills.
Any Questions?
Music therapy can be a truly rewarding career path as you dedicate yourself to the quality of life and healing of others. Are you interested in becoming a music therapist? Contact us below and we would love to answer any of questions you may have!
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