Since the first music therapy degree programs were established in the 1940s, the profession has witnessed a gradual rise in demand.
Simply put, music therapists use music to treat mental illness, support people living with disabilities, and encourage general well-being and creative expression.
Research studies have driven the movement toward legitimizing music therapy as a mode of treatment.
Studies show that music can access the brain in ways that language cannot and that music can even help retrieve repressed memories of trauma.
Music can help people alter their perspectives and retrain the way their brains function.
How does this process work?
Utilizing techniques such as guided relaxation and rhythm, music therapists can help reduce feelings of loneliness, powerlessness, anxiety, depression, stress, and pain.
Music can also increase group cohesion, which is a valuable tool in couples or family therapy.
While driving in bumper-to-bumper traffic, out to eat in an intimate, dimly-lit restaurant, or at a crowded outdoor concert, you might notice how different genres, tempos, and rhythms can facilitate changes in your body’s autonomic processes.
Music therapists use music in intentional ways to elicit changes in physiological processes, such as changes in the patient’s heartbeat, body temperature, blood pressure, and rate of breathing.
Music therapy is a promising option for people who have tried more traditional modes of therapy to no avail, for people who have experienced significant trauma, and for children and adults who are either nonverbal or have difficulty expressing themselves through language or the written word.
Music therapy is neither more nor less legitimate than cognitive behavioral therapy or psychoanalysis – it is simply different.
There are many rewards to becoming a music therapist, and as one can imagine, the path to gaining certification requires a significant investment.
Ahead, we’ll share information regarding a music therapist’s salary range across the United States, the types of jobs one can obtain with a music therapy degree, the steps to the music therapy certification process, and why it is ultimately worth it to pursue a career in music therapy.
Salary – How Much Do Music Therapists Make?
On average, a music therapist in the United States will earn $47,940 per year, though the salary can range from $31,710 to $80,610 depending on where one practices.
The places with the highest average salaries for music therapists are California, New Jersey, Oregon, Connecticut, and Washington, D.C.
Music therapists just getting started in their careers may want to consider the cost of living when deciding where to practice.
Also, where will they practice?
A school or juvenile detention center?
A hospital or rehabilitation center?
A private practice?
Setting up a private practice will require some form of financial investment, whether it is a down payment for purchasing a building or a monthly rental payment toward securing office space.
Students interested in pursuing a career in music therapy should research the best colleges for music therapy in the United States. Fortunately, there are several colleges with excellent music therapy programs across various regions of the country.
In the midwest, Western Michigan University and the University of Minnesota are a good bet for attaining a great education in music therapy.
Western Michigan houses the Brain Lab, which is devoted to studying how the central nervous system processes music and other sensory stimuli.
The University of Minnesota connects music researchers with the school’s medical center and medical community in Minneapolis.
Out west, Arizona State University is a good option for pursuing a course of studies in music therapy. Students can participate in diverse ensembles specializing in African drumming, steel pan drumming, and mariachi.
The vast majority of reputable music degree programs are situated in states along the East Coast. Berklee College of Music is known worldwide for its music therapy program, where students collaborate with experts to develop prototype software for music-related studies.
Temple University offers a Master’s in Music Therapy (MMT), as well as a Ph.D.
What Kind of Jobs Can Someone With a Music Therapy Degree Get?
Approximately 19,200 music therapists are practicing in the United States – the profession is expected to expand by 6.8% between 2016 and 2026.
Naturally, some states may see more demand than others. There are many jobs within the field of music therapy that one can pursue.
Many music therapists choose to work in hospital or clinic settings, which may include psychiatric hospitals, medical hospitals, outpatient clinics, and rehabilitation centers.
Within these contexts, music therapy is often used to reduce pain caused by accidents, injuries, surgeries, and withdrawal from addictive substances.
In children’s hospitals, music therapists may engage young patients in writing songs to process an overwhelming diagnosis, diminish high anxiety levels, or achieve better sleep patterns.
Hospitals can be overwhelming for both children and adults alike, so a music therapist may also use techniques to help acclimate patients to the hospital environment.
Music therapists who enjoy working with youth may gravitate toward jobs in daycare facilities or schools for children living with disabilities that significantly impair their cognitive or motor skills.
Classes in these settings are generally smaller and thus more intimate, allowing children to feel more comfortable expressing themselves.
Senior residential centers and hospice programs are also music therapist-friendly. Music therapists may work in small groups or one-on-one with elder residents to help them maintain fine and gross motor movements, neurological functioning, and emotional expression.
Late in life, a person’s identity is often centered on legacy and one’s overall contribution to society – music therapists can aid in helping senior citizens form positive feelings related to past achievements and events.
Finally, music therapists are also in high demand at correctional facilities and juvenile delinquent centers.
Music therapists can aid residents who are having difficulty coping with limited mobility or independence, as well as restricted outlets for artistic expression or socialization.
Goals might include decreasing impulsivity, navigating intense emotions, developing healthy communication skills, and conveying respect for peers and authority figures.
What Is the Certification Process for Becoming a Music Therapist?
To become a music therapist, one must be a musician!
It will take years of experience to hone skills in musical performance – guitarists, pianists, accordion players, xylophone players, and everyone in between can pursue a career in music therapy.
That being said, potential music therapists should be familiar with many styles of music.
Most generally know how to play several instruments (with guitar and piano being the most popular). Additionally, music therapists have singing experience and can read musical arrangements.
Over 80% of music therapists possess a BA in Music Therapy, and 14% have a master’s degree. Obtaining a BA in Music Therapy or a related field like psychology is the first step toward becoming a music therapist.
Next, candidates go through 1,200 hours of training in a clinical setting, which is generally managed by a supervisor.
Following the practicum, aspiring music therapists will need to pass the national board certification exam, which is administered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists.
Depending on one’s location, there may be additional requirements. For example, some states may require music therapists to register with official state entities or obtain a state-specific license or certification.
Within the course of studies, students can expect to take classes in musical foundations, composition, and arrangement.
They will build upon those skills in courses tailored to human development, advanced research methods, neuroscience, and special education policy.
They may also take classes focused on specific disabilities, like auditory processing disorders.
Often, the 1,200 clinical hours are completed as part of a bachelor’s or master’s program. Schools with music therapy degrees have generally established connections with community hospitals, schools, and social organizations where degree candidates may complete their practicums.
While board certification is not mandatory, most states require it for licensure. Obtaining board certification may demonstrate exceptional dedication to the profession. Certification protects the practitioner, indicating that they are suitable to work as a music therapist.
The MT-BC credential requires candidates to complete an academic or clinical music therapy program approved by the American Music Therapy Association. Next, they must take a written exam – the fee is $325 for people taking the exam for the first time.
Music therapists must recertify every five years by recording and submitting 100 certification credits, then resubmit the CBMT Application for Recertification.
An annual certification maintenance fee is also part of the process. All in all, the certification process is very similar to what teachers go through to gain state licensure and maintain certification over their careers.
Should You Pursue a Career in Music Therapy?
Now is the perfect time to endeavor toward a career in music therapy. Musicians are not born; rather, they are developed through practice and experience.
Music therapists possess characteristics such as patience, compassion, creativity, inquisitiveness, and the ability to empathize with others.
Most music therapists practice in New York, California, and Pennsylvania, though states like Massachusetts, Illinois, and Texas are looking more inviting for music therapists.
States like Montana, Wyoming, Vermont, and South Dakota have fewer than 50 music therapists within their populations – the general trend seems to be that music therapists practice predominantly in urban areas with diverse populations.
There are several challenges that potential music therapists should anticipate as they attempt to grow their careers, with the first being challenges to their legitimacy as a profession.
While music therapy treatments are more accepted today than they have ever been, it is common for people to question how music therapy can make an impact on health and well-being.
In such cases, it may be helpful to cite recent research that shows how music therapy can be useful for nonverbal clients or people who are resistant to talk-based therapy.
Music is also a universal language with generally positive connotations.
It can be helpful as a tool to engage with others and form relationships, which is sometimes difficult in a clinical setting.
In addition to challenges to legitimacy, music therapists may sometimes feel overwhelmed by high caseloads requiring them to meet with many patients in a single day.
It is important for music therapists to maintain a healthy work-life balance and to communicate with supervisors if they feel they are not able to meet their clients’ needs within restrictive time frames
In certain settings, such as prisons, juvenile delinquent centers, or rehabilitation facilities, music therapists may be exposed to a higher risk of violence.
By participating in a collegiate course of study, practicum, and certification process, music therapists typically receive knowledge and experience in de-escalation methods and appropriate etiquette for interacting with patients.
Treatment centers have policies for establishing and keeping boundaries with patients.
All in all, a career in music therapy can be personally and professionally fulfilling. Practitioners may feel a sense of joy and contribution through helping others overcome challenges related to self-expression, problem-solving, processing, and learning.
