Music therapy is not a new field. As a formal discipline, with accredited academic and clinical standards, it has been active in the U.S. since the 1940's. Music therapists work in almost every area where people seek help: children in special education, people of all ages with developmental disabilities; the elderly; children with emotional or behavioral problems; adolescents or adults with psychiatric problems, depression, alcohol or drug problems; physically challenged individuals; people dealing with certain medical conditions, hospice patients, and hearing impaired or visually impaired clients of any age, to name just a few populations. Of course, every music therapist doesn't work with all these types of people at all times, but our curriculum requires study and clinical experience in many diverse areas, as well as the music studies which are basic to any music degree.
The label "music therapy" sometimes leads to confusion about just what we do for our clients or patients. While people may enter speech therapy because they are having trouble speaking or physical therapy because of mobility problems, they don't become involved in music therapy because of musical problems. Their need for help (for example, the areas listed above) is primarily in a nonmusic area. It is the music therapist's job to address the nonmusical need through a musical avenue. Clients or patients do not need to have any prior skill or knowledge about music. The music therapist must find a challenging, yet "do able" music activity which will target the problem while bringing music's unique appeal and qualities into play.
The American Music Therapy Association web site contains additional information about music therapy. The Southeastern Regional chapter of AMTA also has a web site which you will want to read.
Music therapists are employed in health care, educational, and service agencies all over the country. There are always jobs available if a person is free to go where the jobs are located. A listing of current job opportunities is maintained on the AMTA web page. Salaries vary widely, with factors such as the cost of living in a particular area of the country, the duties required, or the educational level (i.e., bachelors or masters) and clinical experience of the applicant. Nevertheless, salaries for beginning music therapists are generally competitive with those of beginning music educators and tend to be higher or more reliable than the incomes of performing musicians.
A growing number of music therapists engage in contract work, rather than taking salaried jobs. They contract with an agency to offer services for a given fee over a specific period of time. This often is referred to as being in private practice. This sort of work can be quite flexible and challenging. Since these therapists are basically self-employed, there are many considerations (business acumen, personality, financial cushion) which must be taken into account. In recent years, AMTA conferences have offered numerous workshops to help people who are considering going into private practice know how to be successful.
Curriculum and Clinical Training -
The curriculum at The University of Alabama develops musical skills and therapeutic strategies which equip graduates to be full participants in a therapeutic team. Music therapists trained at UA must meet the entrance requirements for music majors in the School of Music and, once admitted, they take courses in music, psychology and related areas, and music therapy which synthesize the music and nonmusic coursework. The coursework is followed by a six month full time internship under the direct supervision of an experienced, Board Certified music therapist. MTs must be prepared to offer a wide variety of services to a large number of recipient populations, so the intense training in music and in therapy is essential.
After completing the internship, music therapists are eligible to take a Board Certification examination administered by the Certification Board for Music Therapy. You can identify people who have completed the academic/clinical curriculum and passed this examination by the initials MT-BC following their professional signatures.
Preparation for college training -
Acceptance into a music degree program requires preliminary training in applied music (performance) and some knowledge of music theory and literature. Standards for acceptance may vary among different institutions, but these standards should be available in a catalog, on line, or by conferring with a music therapy professor at a given school. The University of Alabama's requirements and the additional School of Music admission requirements are listed in the catalog.
Many prospective therapy students wonder what personality characteristics are good indicators of success in this field. A real commitment to helping people, plus the musical and academic dedication necessary to complete a music major are essential, of course. Stability, objectivity, and a strong sense of humor are necessary for balance and perspective. The people with whom we work generally respond best to a person who has a strong sense of values, but who can refrain from judging others and focus on solutions.
The music therapy curriculum at UA has been approved by the American Music Therapy Association, the national organization for professionally trained music therapists. Any music degree requires hard work from a student, and music therapy is no exception. Nevertheless, creatively using your musicianship to help someone get through a rough time can make the hard work seem more than worth the effort. If you would like to learn more about what it would mean to be a music therapy major at The University of Alabama, please don't hesitate to get in touch with cpricket@bama.ua.edu.