Requirements For Music Therapy Major
Pursuing a career in music therapy can be an incredibly rewarding and exciting journey. But before you can begin, certain requirements must be fulfilled.
To become a music therapist, you must obtain a bachelor’s degree, post-baccalaureate certificate in music therapy and pass the national board certification exam. Furthermore, you must complete an internship or other supervised clinical experience within your field of specialty.
As a music therapy major, you must be prepared to work with patients of varying health conditions such as addiction, mental illness, infant feeding difficulties and developmental disabilities. With such an expansive career prospectus open to music therapists, there are plenty of rewarding career options available to them.
Music therapy is an interdisciplinary field that requires both musical and health care skills, as well as an intimate knowledge of human psychology. Therefore, music therapy professionals must have the capacity to communicate with clients about their emotional and cognitive needs, and comprehend how their behaviors may influence treatment outcomes.
Many health conditions can benefit from music’s use. A music therapist might select songs that motivate patients to get active or reduce stress levels. Another popular technique is evoking memories through music – this could include improvisation, storytelling, or songwriting.
As the field continues to develop and evolve, you must stay abreast of research and techniques. To keep your skills sharp, attend conferences, continuing education courses or other professional development opportunities.
You can also join a professional organization that provides ongoing support and guidance. For example, the American Music Therapy Association offers numerous resources for both professionals and those pursuing music therapy degrees.
If you already hold a bachelor’s degree in another discipline, earning an equivalency certificate to pursue a career as a music therapist is possible. To do so, obtain official transcripts from your previous degree and meet with the director of the music therapy program to determine exactly which coursework must be taken to fulfill its requirements for a major in music therapy.
A bachelor’s degree in music therapy will give you the skillset needed for a rewarding and exciting career as a clinician. You’ll study under internationally-renowned faculty, gain invaluable real-world experience through internships and fieldwork experiences across various settings.
Your training will focus on honing your interpersonal skills, musicianship and self-understanding to prepare you for a career as a music therapist. Coursework covers music theory, history, psychology and the practice of therapy with special populations; additionally you’ll get hands-on experience in music therapy techniques, functional instrument lessons and clinical methods.
After earning your degree, you’ll be eligible to sit for the national board certification exam offered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT). By passing this examination, you’ll gain professional membership in the AMTA and become a certified music therapist with licenses to practice music therapy in most states.