How to Prepare for Music Therapy Education
A Guide for Aspiring Music Therapists
Music therapy is a clinical modality that can help to facilitate education and rehabilitation. In order to become a music therapist, one must:
- Earn a bachelor’s degree in music therapy through an AMTA-approved university
- Complete an internship
- Pass the board exam (MT-BC)
- Masters equivalency: If you already hold a bachelor’s degree in a related field (e.g. music education or performance, psychology, counseling, etc.), it might be possible to earn a master equivalency to attain a music therapy degree
An education in music therapy involves the study of music (theory, instrumental performance, ear training, composition, and more), psychology, biology, and the clinical application of music.
As one who is just about to complete the internship process, I’d like to share things I have learned with hope that it will help any aspiring music therapists to lay out their path to board certification in music therapy. Here are some tips to consider:
Cultivate a sense of curiosity, tenacity, and compassion
These attributes are a foundational consideration in determining if the field of music therapy is right for you. If you are interested in becoming a music therapist, you are most likely drawn to the profound potential healing benefits of music and wish to contribute to your community in positive ways. It is important to reflect on your sentiments so you can further foster these noble attributes in order to actualize them for the benefit of the community.
- Curiosity: There is always more to learn. Fostering a sense of curiosity will help you to continue to cultivate your skills and knowledge to become an effective music therapist in the future. However, be careful not to fall down rabbit holes of information. There is no point in collecting knowledge without application. At this point, you don’t have to be an expert in everything.
- Tenacity: Anything worth pursuing is going to be difficult. Fostering a sense of determination will help you to overcome any challenges that inevitably come your way. Consciously developing healthy coping strategies is crucial for setting yourself up for success because the jobs in music therapy require tremendous mental and emotional energy.
- Compassion: Music therapists are here to help people. Foster a sense of compassion for the profound beauty of the human being and practice appreciating that beauty in everyone you encounter. One thing to watch out for is to be so empathetic that you take on the pain of those you work with. Another thing to make sure of is to care for yourself so you can show up every day without burning out
Strategically map out your academic path
Education is very difficult and expensive, so planning your path strategically is crucial for setting yourself up for success. Consider the following:
- Transfer Credits:
To lessen the financial burden of university attendance, it may be wise to attend a community college for basic classes such as psychology, sociology, biology, English, writing, and music classes. In most cases, this will save a tremendous amount of money when you enter an AMTA-approved university program. Be aware, though, that some colleges will only accept a certain maximum of transfer credits.
- Test out:
It helps to develop your skills in music, psychology, biology, etc. before you enter the educational institution. By being able to test out of basic classes thanks to the work you put in beforehand will save you time and money. However, weigh the pros and cons of testing out of classes. Sometimes a class that is perceived as unnecessary will show you exactly what you need to know. We don’t know what we don’t know.
- Scholarships:
Consider applying for as many scholarships as you can before and while attending college. This can make a huge difference in reliving the financial burden of college.
- In state vs out of state: One additional consideration is whether an AMTA-approved university is in or out of your home state. In many cases, this affects the tuition price.
Grow your musical skills and repertoire
Musical skills are fundamental to the practice of music therapy, as music therapists often use a wide variety of instruments that include guitar, drums, percussion, piano, and vocals.
No matter what population you serve as a future music therapist, you will surely be playing lots of songs. It is helpful to have an extensive repertoire so you always have something up your sleeve. A practice you can do for this is to choose one song a day and play along to it while reading the chords. You can find the chords to almost any song at UltimateGuitar.com. This will also help to develop your discipline and musical skills.
Consider developing a repertoire from a wide range of styles, genres, and eras. For example, the repertoire used with elderly individuals would most likely be very different from the repertoire used with children.
Shadow a Music Therapist
One thing I wish I had done is to shadow a music therapist so I could see the real-life application of the practice. This can help to gain a better understanding of what a music therapy session looks like before and during your music therapy education. It can also help you to learn about the practice and which populations you would like to work with in the future. It can also be helpful to seek out a music therapist to take lessons from. A musical education tailored to music therapy skills can be very helpful.
In conclusion, the path to becoming a music therapist can be a beautiful journey if it is right for you. The question of whether music therapy is right for you is not a simple question to answer. Perhaps the best way to know is to experience music therapy first-hand by shadowing a music therapist and reflecting on what kind of career you wish to have. Seeking out opportunities to volunteer in music therapy led programs, gain volunteer or work with people in the settings that music therapists work in (be a candy striper, work at group home and provide direct care support, volunteer at a camp, etc.). We set ourselves up for success when we practice strategic planning, discipline, musical skills, reading, writing, speaking, and playing. Enjoy your journey!
This post is not intended to provide financial advice.
Written by Alec Johnson, Music Therapy Intern