Spoiler: You Don't Need to Play Every Instrument!
Source: Parkview Health. A music therapist and a client with cerebral palsy play the guitar together.
New research from Oxford Academic Journal of Music Therapy defines what makes a music therapist. If that career interests you, read more to find out!
Music Therapy is a type of therapy that uses collaborative music making or listening to improve the well-being of individuals. Specifically, music therapy is useful for addressing cognitive, physical, psychological, and social benefits. It’s particularly recommended for those who have difficulty benefitting from traditional psychotherapy, either because of difficulty expressing themselves, being kinetic learners, or otherwise. It’s been found to be especially helpful for those with dementia, traumatic brain injuries, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, cancer, anxiety disorders, substance abuse disorders, and more. Some strategies music therapists may employ in treatment sessions are:
In all cases, however, the techniques music therapists use are specifically catered to the individual or group they’re treating.
The people who conduct music therapy. They can come from all backgrounds, all previous careers, and all college majors. Music therapists’ practical skills are referred to as Music Therapy Musicianship (MTM).
The skills needed by music therapists are different from those of performing musicians. Solo-music making for example, is not prioritized compared to interactive music-making skills. An expansive repertoire and instrumental competence are resources, not achievements. The more you know and the greater your range, the more you’ll be able to adjust spontaneously for what your client needs. MTM also requires interpersonal skills–namely, the ability to interpret and respond to the behavior of others, including difficult emotions.
In one study, MTM was studied across 11 music therapists, and through them, researchers identified five categories that are crucial to success in music therapy. Not every music therapist demonstrated every single one of these characteristics in the sessions the researchers observed, but each one contributed to the competence of the therapist.
The music therapists surveyed demonstrated these values throughout their sessions.
Many music therapists discussed the importance of preparation. Here are some of the ways they demonstrated preparation in their sessions.
Each music therapist discussed going into the session with each of these ideas in mind. All music they incorporate into the session is done so in order to address a client’s health needs.
Source: The London Piano Institute.
These are the techniques that we’re most likely to associate with music therapy practice, but as you can see, they’re just as important as the attitude of the music therapist, their intention, and preparation.
If you find yourself identifying with a number of these qualities or are curious to learn more about them, music therapy might not be far out of reach.
Unlike traditional psychotherapists, music therapists don’t often have specializations. This goes for both the people they treat and the instruments they play. Generally, because there are a relatively small number of music therapists, they need to be willing to work with a number of different patients with a large variety of needs. It’s less common to see a music therapist that only works with anxiety disorders or only works with developmental disabilities, for example.
Similarly, while many music schools want their students to excel in one instrument or instrument family, music therapists don’t need to master one single instrument. For example, a patient might have previous experience playing the guitar, so it may be helpful to play the guitar with them. Other patients may respond more to electronic music, woodwinds, or the piano. Therefore, being able to play multiple instruments or genres moderately well is more important to music therapy than being a master.
Even though researchers were able to track trends of skills the therapists demonstrated across music therapy sessions, they noted that no two sessions looked alike. Some sessions were very serious, others focused on making sure the patients had fun. Some sessions focused specifically on one musical idea and focused on that throughout, but others broached a wide number of ideas and emotions.
Furthermore, because the music therapists came from all over the United States and had various backgrounds—either in music therapy, music education, or otherwise—the music they pulled from looked very different. For example, one therapist mentioned using Latin music more frequently in her sessions because she was Argentinian.
Source: Pexels.
While it’s good to keep in mind the skillset that makes a good music therapist, it’s also important to consider the practical steps it takes to get there.
While some universities in the US offer dedicated music therapy majors, not all do. Therefore, some of the highest recommended majors for music therapy are psychology, music, and music education. Then, after graduating from your bachelors program, you generally need to apply to graduate school at a university that offers a music therapy program. It’s possible to become a music therapist with only a bachelor’s degree, but it is harder to clock clinical hours and obtain your board certification. This is especially true for students who only majored in either psychology OR music, not both.
In order to begin practicing music therapy at a hospital, clinic, or private practice, you first need certification from The Certification Board for Music Therapists. The certification exam has 150 questions, and is offered at around 200 in-person locations worldwide. To practice, they offer mock exams on their website.
Ultimately, there are no hard and fast skills you have to take to become a music therapist. Music therapy treats a wide range of clients, so therapists from different backgrounds are important to address the breadth of needs the profession requires.
