Music Therapy Major

compmom
Sat, 10 Feb 2018 10:14:26 +0000

Music therapy is an emerging field with recent progress in certification and in funding. One reason I have seen so much volunteer (uncertified) music therapy type activity is that until recently some organizations saw it as a frill, and did not fund it. We did a pilot program in a hospice, that demonstrated value, and then it was funded and they hired professionals.

We spend time in a traumatic brain injury rehab with a family member, and the people I knew who were using music therapy, hired the person privately. This was a major rehab facility but they had no music therapy.

Psychiatric hospitals have art therapy but I have not seem music therapy on a professional basis.

The assisted living facility I deal with is on a tight budget for vendors and has an activities director whose main focus is getting services for free or cheaply, including musical performers.

I imagine the harp players in hospital lobbies are paid but that is hardly what the training prepares people for.

With all the research on music and neuroscience, and the relatively new professional programs at the undergrad level, I am sure this is changing. It would seem to depend on organizations recognizing the value of music as an essential component of therapy, and therefore funding professional positions.

I am curious where the internships are, what kinds of organizations, and also what jobs people are now getting out of undergrad or grad therapy programs.

One doctor told my daughter to get out of expressive arts therapy if she wants to make a living. I was supportive of the therapy path but my daughter did switch out for a variety of reasons, mainly the narrowness of the focus.