Who is qualified to practice music therapy?
A qualified music therapist must complete:
- Successful completion of a four – year baccalaureate program in Music Therapy and an additional 1,040 hour internship. Course work includes: music therapy principles and practice, applied music, music theory and history, psychology, sociology, biological and physical sciences, research and fieldwork.
- Successful completion of a board certified examination demonstrating current skills in the profession of music therapy. This will provide the opportunity to hold the MT-BC (Music Therapist – Board Certified) credential.
- Recertification every five years through re-examination or upon the successful completion and documentation of 100 Continuing Music Therapy Education (CMTE) units, and through the completion of CBMT Application for Recertification and payment of an annual certification maintenance fee.
Is there research to support music therapy?
Journal of Music Therapy and Music Therapy Perspectives are peer review journals published by the American Music Therapy Association. They provide research supporting various effective music therapy interventions and techniques. The Center for Biomedical Research in Music also does extensive research and posts a detailed bibliography on their website.
What is a typical music therapy session like?
Since music therapists serve a wide variety of persons with many different types of needs there is no such thing as an overall typical session. Sessions are designed and music selected based on the individual client’s treatment plan.
How is music therapy funded?
There are various ways music therapy can be funded:
- Grants and Private pay
- Medicare
- Medicaid – provided to individuals with developmental disabilities
- Private Insurance
I’ve heard about other therapeutic music professionals. What is different about music therapy?
Other music professionals such as Certified Music Practitioners, Harp Therapists and Certified Music Thanatologists offer a valuable service. Although they all incorporate music, they also have differences regarding the amount of training, level of supervision during training, target clientele and instruments or repertoire used in clinical settings.
Music therapists are certified by the Certification Board for Music Therapists which is regulated by an independent and nationally – recognized accrediting agency, the National Commission for Certifying Agencies. Music therapy is also the only therapeutic music profession recognized by the American Medical Association, and as such is the only one that is potentially insurance reimbursable.
