music therapy

I heard knitting therapy is all the rage these days..

What do you want to know? Music therapists can work with a wide range of populations, including special needs adults and children, the elderly, hospice, and NICU. There are several programs in the Tri-State area. There are other specializations such as guided imagery. The basic premise is to employ music to achieve non-musical goals.

Hatzlacha!

The starting point is a bachelor’s in music therapy, which allows you to sit for board certification. A list of schools and contact info can be found at the American Music Therapy Association website, musictherapy dot org, click on Careers.

You are very welcome. The bachelor’s is a 4 year degree, but if you already have a music degree, it takes a couple years to take the classes required to sit for boards. As far as jobs… it depends on where you are living, and where you want to be in 4 years. Some states’ music therapy associations have done of ton of advocacy, and there will be even better awareness in 4 years. It also depends on how and where you want to work – do you want to hang out your shingle, or do you want to be an employee of a service provider such as a school, social service agency or hospital? These are not questions you have to answer now. You will get a better idea throughout your schooling which direction you want to take.

Also, if you are serious about pursuing this, you should contact a school ASAP. Admissions decisions are being made now, and because of the way the tracks are set up, you usually have to start in the fall.

I’m happy to answer any more questions you may have. Good luck!