Who are the Music Therapists?

1834 Words4 Pages

Who are the Music Therapists?
As Music Therapy has evolved and become a more well-establish health profession, the required credentials to become a Music Therapist have increased greatly (AMTA, 2008; AMTA, 2012). Music therapists today are not just ordinary musicians as they were in the World War II era. A professional music therapist today is highly credentialed and must graduate from one of the approved AMTA college or university programs and must also complete a minimum of 1200 hours of clinical training. During this training, potential music therapist often act as both the therapist and the client in different situations. (Eschen, 2002). Through this type of training students acquire some basic tools that will help them later on in their practice, tools such as becoming familiar with their interpersonal language, how to maintain a high level of sensitivity and flexibility at all times, experiencing the power of music, learning to be a part of the ongoing process of discovery, learning to be vitally involved and at the same time thrive as a therapist with an independent practice. (Eschen, 2002). After the completion of this training, each prospective therapist is then required to pass a national certification exam issued by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT) in order to be considered a board certified music therapist (AMTA, 2008; AMTA, 2012). In addition to the MT-BC certification, there are other alternative credentials available that are also recognized by the CBMT. These credentials listed as Registered Music Therapists, Certified Music Therapists and Advanced Certified Music Therapists. If an individual does not possess any of these previously listed credentials, they are not qualified to provide service...

... middle of paper ...

... (2002). Analytical music therapy. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Forgeard, M., Schlaug, G., Norton, A., Rosam, C., Iyengar, U. & Winner, E. (2008). The relation between music and phonological processing in normal-reading children and children with dyslexia. JSTOR.

Koelsch, S., Offermanns, K. & Franzke, P. (2010). Music in the treatment of affective disorders: an exploratory investigation of a new method for music-therapeutic research. JSTOR.

Lim, H. (2011). Developmental Speech-Language Training through Music for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Oldfield, A. & Flower, C. (2008). Music therapy with children and their families. London: Jessica Kingsley Pub.

See, C. (2012). The Use of Music and Movement Therapy to Modify Behaviour of Children with Autism. Pertanika Journal Of Social Sciences & Humanities, 20 (4).

More about Who are the Music Therapists?

Open Document