Getting Started As a Music Therapist in Austin, TX
Music therapy is a form of healthcare that utilizes music to help individuals improve their wellbeing. It has the potential to treat both mental and physical conditions, as well as being used by schools or psychiatric facilities to give patients an outlet to express their emotions.
Are you in search of a way to increase your income? Consider becoming a music therapist. Five universities in Texas offer this program, including Southern Methodist University and Austin Community College.
The music therapist job market in Austin, TX and its surrounding areas is very active, with many employers hiring for this position. According to ZipRecruiter’s database of active jobs, Music Therapists typically earn an annual salary of $60,901.
Students can pursue this profession by earning an undergraduate degree in music and then enrolling in a graduate degree program for music therapy. Upon graduation, you must pass the National Board Examination to become certified as a music therapist.
The field of music therapy is expanding and more students are interested. But finding the right school can be daunting.
Mary Ellen Poole, director of the Butler School of Music at the University of Texas in Austin, noted that music therapy is on the rise and there simply aren’t enough therapists to go around. To address this shortage, she hopes the university will offer a program in the near future.
Completing the degree can take a considerable amount of time, as it requires extensive research.
Lindstrom, who has been a music therapist for 13 years, advises students aspiring to become music therapists to pursue graduate study in music therapy at an accredited school. If your major is psychology, finding the right school may be harder; however, those with music degrees have greater chances of acceptance.
Some colleges offer music therapy programs, but these are not recognized by the state. To become licensed as a music therapist, one must obtain a graduate degree and pass both the board exam and certification requirements.
A music therapy bachelor’s degree typically lasts four years and requires students to take music theory, ensemble, fieldwork and research courses. Additionally, they gain hands-on experience working in a clinical setting.
Music therapists work with children, adolescents and adults in hospitals, schools, nursing homes and psychiatric facilities. They use music to enhance cognition, attention, communication, motor skills and social skills as well as increase emotional well-being.
Music therapy encompasses a range of subfields and treatments. Some examples include music and the brain, song writing, physical movement therapy, and more.
Music therapy can be an effective tool in teaching children and teens how to communicate with family members and caregivers, as well as aiding in the healing of trauma and other mental health issues.