Celebrating World Music Therapy Week, and What It Takes To Be A Music Therapist
Did you know that April 10th through 15th is World Music Therapy Week?
World Music Therapy Week is an annual celebration that shines a light on the power of music to change lives. Music therapists can address various non-musical goals within a therapeutic relationship. Music therapy can help with speech, language, motor, cognitive, psychological, and social needs, and more! Music has the power to improve well-being. As we say at Perfect Harmony Health, music therapy can ‘Connect the Brain, Compose the Mind, and Synchronize the Body.’ During this week, clinicians, educators, and those impacted by music therapy come together to raise awareness about music therapy and its profound impact on individuals of all ages and backgrounds. While music therapy is an evidence-based practice, it is still unknown to or misunderstood by the greater population. When someone sees a music therapist walking into a facility with a guitar, they often refer to the music therapist as the “guitar person” here to “entertain.” However, while a person might enjoy their music therapy session, the purpose is not to entertain but to provide therapeutic benefits. As music therapists, we are often met with shock when we explain what we do and that it requires an actual degree and a board certification. So, during World Music Therapy Week, I want to clarify what music therapy is and share what it takes to be a music therapist.
Understanding Music Therapy:
Music therapy is a holistic approach to treatment that utilizes the inherent qualities of music to address physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and communication needs - to name a few. With technological advances, we have seen that music is a whole brain process, and engaging in music practices and interventions can change the brain and create new connections that circumvent damage. Music serves as the mechanism for change. Music therapists understand how to adjust each element of music (melody, rhythm, harmony, pitch, dynamics, and more) to affect individuals at a neurological, psychological, and physiological level and thus impact therapeutic outcomes. It is an evidence-based practice recognized and utilized in various settings, including hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centers, private practices, and community programs. Through music-based interventions such as singing and playing instruments, music therapists work with clients to achieve therapeutic goals and improve their overall quality of life.
World Music Therapy Week is an opportunity to highlight the importance of music therapy on a global scale. It provides a platform for music therapists to showcase their work, share success stories, and advocate for increased access to music therapy services. Music therapy is still considered an ‘out-of-network’ service by insurance companies, which makes it harder for families to afford and access this innovative treatment. At PHH, we believe that just because healthcare is innovative does not mean it is a luxury, and that is why we are a non-profit and work hard to fundraise, secure donations, and acquire grants so that we can provide low and no-cost services to our families through scholarships and other grant and donor-funded programs. World Music Therapy Week provides us with a stage to advocate for the profession of music therapy and, hopefully, dispel some misconceptions about the profession and education required so that one day, we will no longer be considered an ‘out-of-network’ service and music therapy can reach the lives of all who can benefit.
Music Therapy Education:
Becoming a music therapist requires a combination of musical proficiency, clinical training, and specialized knowledge of psychology, biology, neurology, social and behavioral sciences, diagnoses, and therapy techniques. In America, music therapists must complete a bachelor’s degree, undergraduate equivalency, or master’s equivalency in music therapy. The bachelor’s degree is at least four years long. For the equivalency programs, one must have already completed a bachelor’s degree in a related field. Then, one will be required to complete all additional music therapy coursework needed to achieve the professional competencies of a music therapist and earn the music therapy equivalency.
The bachelor’s and equivalency programs require at least 1200 hours of clinical training and experience. Clinical hours are gained through fieldwork completed within music therapy courses and a music therapy internship spanning at least 6-months. Upon successfully completing the degree and acquiring the required clinical hours, an individual is eligible to sit for the national certification exam administered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT). After passing this exam, music therapists obtain the Music Therapist - Board Certified (MT-BC) credential. This credential is required for one to practice. To maintain their board certification, music therapists must complete at least 100 hours of continuing education every five years.
In Georgia, music therapy is also protected by state licensure, which means one must register with the Georgia Secretary of State to receive the credential Licensed Professional Music Therapist (LPMT). Music Therapists in Georgia must renew their licenses with the state every two years and complete at least 40 hours of continuing education every two years to be eligible for licensure renewal.
Many states in America are still fighting for professional licensure. State licensure is vital for protecting the music therapy profession and our clients. Licensure safeguards against individuals who lack the necessary education and credentials from falsely presenting themselves as music therapists and offering music therapy services. Such individuals who lack the requisite education and credentials in music therapy but claim to provide music therapy services can cause harm to the clients they serve.
Doing so is not only highly unethical and damaging to the client but damaging to the perception of the music therapy profession, harming advocacy efforts that could improve funding and accessibility to families needing this service.
Following a bachelor’s degree, a music therapist can elect to complete a master’s or doctoral degree in music therapy, though it is not required to be a practicing clinician. So there you have it! Music therapy has its own degree and certification, so make sure your therapist has MT-BC and, in Georgia, LPMT after their name.
World Music Therapy Week serves as a reminder of the profound impact that music can have on our health and well-being. By celebrating this week and promoting awareness of music therapy, we can further advocate for its integration into healthcare and educational systems worldwide. For those considering a career in music therapy, the educational journey outlined above provides a roadmap to becoming a qualified and compassionate practitioner who harnesses the power of music to enrich the lives of others. It is a rewarding profession, and we at Perfect Harmony Health are so thankful to our families and the greater music therapy community for your support and all you do for the music therapy profession!
Resources:
American Music Therapy Association. (n.d.). A career in music therapy. https://www.musictherapy.org/careers/employment/
