Music Therapy: A Brief Overview

Allison Wilber: awilber@ilstu.edu

Questions?
- Dose MT use ant instrument?
- Where is MT used?
- What is the job market like?
- What education is necessary?
History:
- Musicians were brought into hospitals during WWII to help with PTSD
- 1944 Michigan State University
- 1998 the American Music Therapy Association was founded
Definitions:
- Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music
interventions to accomplish individualize goals within a therapeutic
relationship by credentialed professional who had completed an
approved music therapy program
- A tool by a professional in order to address needs
What do Music therapists do?
- Assess strengths and needs
- Design individualized sessions using client appropriate music and
techniques
- Participate in interdisciplinary treatment
Who benefits from Music therapy?
- Everyone!!!
How
-

do they benefit?
Motor/Physical
Communicational
Social/ emotional
Cognitive/ academic
Sensory

How is music therapy done?

- Therapeutic Process:
o Referral
o Assessment
o Treatment plan
o Implementation
o Documentation
o Reassessment or Termination

Paperwork:
- Goal:
- Objective:
o What you will do and how you will test it
- Rationale:
o Why are you doing it?
- Data Collection:
Misconceptions:
- The client must have music skills
- The therapist doesnt need musical skills
- Can you play trombone at me until my back feels better?
- Certain types of music are best
- Music therapy is a new field
- Elderly man with headphones
Strengths:
- Its a strength-based therapy
- Does not require any prior music experience
- Covers a broad range of needs and populations
- Is multi-cultural
- Is research supported
Music Ed. Vs. Music Therapy
- Music Ed.
o Give and understanding and appreciation for music
o Music is the goal
- Music Therapy
o To use music in order to address needs
o Functional outcomes are the goal
o Music is a tool
How do I become a music therapist?
1. Find an accredited university program
a. Bachelors
b. Masters
c. Master Equivalency
2. Attend accredited university program
a. 1200 hours of clinical training, including internship
b. Musical competencies (guitar, piano, voice)
3. Take the certification exam
4. Congrats, youre a BC-MT
5. Recertify every 5 years

awilber@ilstu.edu More information:

AMTA website: www.musictherapy.org