Learn more about
Music Therapy
History of Music Therapy
Music therapy is a qualified health care profession that was established in the 1950’s when music began being utilized in a The idea of music as a healing influence which could affect health and behavior is as least as old as the writings of Aristotle and Plato and in some cultures, long before that. The 20th century profession formally began after World War I and World War II when community musicians of all types, both amateur and professional, went to Veterans hospitals around the country to play for the thousands of veterans suffering both physical and emotional trauma from the wars. The patients’ notable physical and emotional responses to music led the doctors and nurses to request the hiring of musicians by the hospitals. It was soon evident that the hospital musicians needed some prior training before entering the facility and so the demand grew for a college curriculum. source: musictherapy.org
Music Therapists
A professional music therapist holds a bachelor’s degree or higher in music therapy. The curriculum for the bachelor’s degree is designed to impart entry level competencies in three main areas: musical foundations, clinical foundations, and music therapy foundations and principles. In addition to the academic coursework, the bachelor’s degree requires 1200 hours of clinical training, including a supervised internship. Graduate degrees in Music Therapy focus on advanced clinical practice and research.
Upon completion of the bachelor’s degree, music therapists are eligible to sit for the national board certification exam to obtain the credential MT-BC (Music Therapist – Board Certified) which is necessary for professional practice. The credential MT-BC is granted by a separate, accredited organization, the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT), to identify music therapists who have demonstrated the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to practice at the current level of the profession and must be maintained with 100 continuing education credits every 5 years. source: musictherapy.org
How Can Music Therapy Help?
- Creative expression
- Non-verbal expression
- Positive Attachments
- Self-discovery
- Self-confidence
- Emotional coping skills
- Anxiety reduction
- Pain management
- Quality of life
- Leisure skill development
- Reminiscence
- Sensory processing and integration
- Fine and gross motor control
- Language – expressive/receptive
- Impulse control
- Socialization skills
- Executive functioning skills
Mainstay Music Therapy, Inc.
1910 St Joe Center Rd, Unit 44
Fort Wayne IN, 46825
260.494.1624
contact@mainstaymusictherapy.com