Music therapist

Music therapist job description: Typical employers | Qualifications and training | Key skills | Useful links | Find jobs and courses

Music therapy aims to help clients understand and address such inner conflicts. Therapists perform controlled sessions with individuals, groups or families where music and communication are used to explore behaviour, attitudes and emotions (some of which may be unconscious or repressed).

Typical responsibilities of the job include:

• assessing clients' needs
• planning and providing appropriate music sessions
• actively participating in music sessions and encouraging clients to do the same
• exploring a variety of musical styles and sounds with clients through singing, percussion, ethnic instruments and improvisation
• maintaining records and case notes
• reporting progress to families/carers, relevant agencies or professional staff.

Therapists work with adults and children who are suffering symptoms including:

• depression
• anxiety
• physical/psychiatric/neurological disorders
• learning difficulties
• dementia
• autism
• behavioural problems
• congenital/emotional problems.

Typical employers of music therapists

• National Health Service (NHS) trusts
• local education authorities
• local authority social services departments
• hospitals
• day or health centres
• residential homes
• nurseries
• special schools
• prisons

Many music therapists work as private practitioners.

Music therapy is a small profession and there is strong competition for jobs. Most opportunities that arise are part time or temporary contracts. Vacancies are advertised in national newspapers, vacancy lists produced by local education/health authorities, and publications including the Times Educational Supplement, Therapy Weekly, the Association of Professional Music Therapists vacancy list, Community Care and Health and Social Services Journal.

Qualifications and training required

To become a registered therapist it is necessary to obtain a postgraduate diploma in music therapy (one year full time or two to three years part time). Most course providers accept candidates with music degrees, or high levels of musical performance.

The Association of Professional Music Therapists lists recognised courses on their website. Relevant experience prior to postgraduate study is normally essential. Music therapy may not be a first career choice, and many people enter the profession later in life.

Key skills for musical therapists

• maturity
• excellent interpersonal skills
• communication skills.