Medical Music Therapy

Clients do not need to be musicians. Every session involves the client in some type of musical experience, primarily of improvisation, re-creating, composition, and listening to music. In those sessions which involve improvisation, the client makes up his or her own music extemporaneously, singing or playing notes that arise in the moment. The client may improvise with the therapist, with other clients, or alone, depending on the therapeutic objective. In sessions involving re-creating music, the client sings or plays pre-composed music. The client might learn how to produce vocal or instrumental sounds, imitate musical phrases, learn to sing by rote, and use musical notation, among many other musical skills. In composing sessions, the therapist helps the client write songs, lyrics, or instrumental pieces; any kind of musical product can be composed, from music videos to audiotape programs. Listening work involves the client taking in and reacting to live or recorded music and responding to one or more aspects of it through a variety of activities. Sessions for children often include various games or play activities that involve music.

Musical Therapists

Individuals who work in music therapy are typically musicians with a sincere desire to use their love and talents for music to help others. Musical therapists also tend to have a strong interest in psychology or medicine. Musicianship is obviously an essential quality, as is an in-depth understanding of the power of music, including its power to heal, and the ability to reach others through singing and playing instruments. A music therapist is required to possess an undergraduate degree in music therapy, or its equivalent, from an accredited college or university. Musical therapists should also have completed an approved internship of supervised clinical hours and obtained certification by passing a national examination given by the Certification Board for Music Therapist (CBMT). Approximately 70 colleges and universities in the United States offer bachelor's degrees and equivalency programs in music therapy.

Music