ABOUT Music Therapy
What is music therapy?
This is the most frequent question any music therapist encounters and sometimes, the hardest to answer in a way that resonates with the questioner. Below is the official definition of music therapy from the American Music Therapy Association which provides a clinical and thorough response. You may also read the M3 Musing “What exactly IS Music Therapy?” for further clarification.
Music therapy also provides avenues for communication that can be helpful to those who find it difficult to express themselves in words. Research in music therapy supports its effectiveness in many areas such as: overall physical rehabilitation and facilitating movement, increasing people’s motivation to become engaged in their treatment, providing emotional support for clients and their families, and providing an outlet for expression of feelings.
It is an established health profession in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. After assessing the strengths and needs of each client, the qualified music therapist provides the indicated treatment including creating, singing, moving to, and/or listening to music. Through musical involvement in the therapeutic context, clients’ abilities are strengthened and transferred to other areas of their lives.
What Do Music Therapists Do?
Who Can Benefit From Music Therapy?
Who Is Qualified To Practice Music Therapy?
Persons who complete one of the approved college music therapy curricula (including an internship) are then eligible to sit for the national examination offered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists. Music therapists who successfully complete the independently administered examination hold the music therapist-board certified credential (MT-BC).