Being a college student, I am constantly asked what my major is. When I say “music therapy,” I always receive puzzled looks and more questions in response. “What is music therapy?” “Do you just play music for people to make them feel better?” The answer to the latter is, of course, no. It is more complex than that and requires a bachelor degree in the subject and passing a certification test, as well as an internship. So what exactly is music therapy, and what makes one a qualified and certified music therapist?
Music Therapy is an evidence-based practice which is used to enhance a medical treatment, behavioral modification, or educational process. The Center For Music Therapy in Austin, Texas states,
Music Therapy is the enhancement of human capabilities through the planned use of musical influences on brain functioning. Music Therapy is useful because music triggers whole brain processes and functioning which directly affect one’s cognitive, emotional and physical functions and abilities (Center for Music Therapy).
There is much evidence and research on music therapy, proving it effective. You can find articles on experiments in the medical and science journals. There is even a Journal of Music Therapy.
The next common question is: who receives music therapy? Most people who ask me about my studies assume that it is solely used for psychological health to enhance one’s mood. Music Therapy is in fact used in any and every unit in a medical setting at hospitals, as well as elder care, for people with behavioral problems, children in special education, children with selected learning disabilities (SLD,) in a mainstream classroom, Mommy and Me classes, for pregnant women going into labor, surprisingly, for the Deaf and blind populations, and even to get premature infants out of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) more rapidly. Although the following descriptions is in no way an exhausted list, here are some of the uses of Music Therapy that are practiced at the Center of Music Therapy in Austin, Texas:
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Education/Resource Room – to motivate, reinforce, teach, shape behaviors, and increase social skills and expression.
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Psychiatric – To identify and express feeling through verbal and non-verbal musical expression.
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Alzheimer’s – To cue memory recall and socialization.
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Medical – To manipulate biomedical levels and reactions (ACTH stress hormones, cortisol levels, immune responses, and endorphins), as well as to address social-emotional aspects of treatment.
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Rehabilitation – To neurologically manipulate neurological functions (motor, speech, and cognitive processes).
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Wellness – To reduce anxiety, to promote progressive and autogenic relaxation, to maintain function and facilitate life enrichment experiences which facilitate an overall sense of well-being in an individual.
(Center for Music Therapy)
The American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) has its own web site. It is has many quotes from those who work with music therapists on a daily basis. It is interesting to note that the AMTA quotes Dr. Oliver Sacks in his book, “Awakenings.” As posted on the AMTA’s web site, Dr. Sacks writes,
…patients with neurological disorders who cannot talk or move are often able to sing, and sometimes even dance, to music. Its advocates say music therapy also can help ease the trauma of grieving, lessen depression and provide and outlet for people who are otherwise withdrawn (American Music Therapy Association).
As taught in the music therapy baccalaureate program, music is in many cases the best prescribed treatment for those with neurological malfunctions because it utilizes a different part of the brain than speech or motor skills. A patient may seem non-responsive when asked a question, or expected to remember how to write. However, the only time that patient may use his or her voice may be when singing a familiar song with the music therapist. The goal is to breakthrough the person’s functioning and neurological abilities from the music, and transfer it over the the area in which they are lacking. These symptoms may have been caused by an accident, stroke, or coma.
So what qualifies a music therapist as certified? First, you must audition into a music therapy baccalaureate program, with a musical instrument. The curriculum is really specific, and leaves little room for electives, as demanded by the board who certifies music therapists. Students must take music courses which are the same as all other music degrees are required to take, like Music Performance and Music Education. As Kathy, a board certified music therapist explains on her web site, these course include: history, theory, conducting, instrumental technique, ensembles, and private lessons. The music therapy courses consist of Psychology of Music, music therapy principles, and hands-on practica experiences. Students must take biological and behavioral sciences such as abnormal psychology, psychology of the exceptional child, anatomy and physiology, and brain and behavior. Music Therapy curriculum is also complete with liberal arts studies, a few electives, and of course learning guitar and piano, as every traveling music therapists will need to play (Kathy). Once college courses are complete, one may do their internship, which must be at least six months, in order to be qualified to take the certification test.
Music Therapy is a research-based science. Certified Music Therapists must go through a rigorous process to become certified, and legally practice their career. It is not simply playing music for a patient or client to make them feel better. The music therapist is well-trained and knows what music to play with or for whom, and how they will meet the goals as dictated by the referring doctor, or educational team.
Bibliography
American Music Therapy Association. http://musictherapy.org/quotes.html
Center for Music Therapy. http://www.centerformusictherapy.com/whatis.html
(accessed December 10, 2007).
Kathy. http://members.aol.com/kathysl/ed.html
(accessed December 10, 2007).
