What is Music Therapy? Music therapy is an established healthcare profession that uses music to accomplish nonmusical therapeutic goals such as pain reduction, self-expression, memory enhancement, improvement of communication/speech, physical rehabilitation, and more.
Who benefits from Music Therapy? A wide variety of people can benefit from Music Therapy, including: -older populations -DD -mental health -physically disabled -school-aged children -early childhood -substance abuse -sensory impaired -neurologically impaired -terminally ill -learning disabilities
What do Music Therapists do? Assessment: The initial session consists of a thorough assessment the client's emotional, physical, social, communicative, behavioral, musical and cognitive abilities through the use of Therapeutic Musical Experiences (TMEs). Treatment Plan: Long-term goals and short-term objectives are established addressing the client's needs. Implementation: Music Therapy sessions are comprised of TMEs designed to address the goals and objectives established in the client's treatment plan. Ongoing Evaluation: The client's progress is evaluated on an ongoing basis. Goals and objectives are amended based on evaluation of client's progress in therapy. Termination of treatment
How do you become a Music Therapist? Music therapists must obtain a Bachelor's Degree in Music Therapy from college or university approved by the American Music Therapy Association. Once all required coursework is completed, a six to twelve-month internship is required prior to receiving the degree. Upon obtaining the degree, the music therapist is eligible to sit for the national examination offered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists. Those who successfully complete the independently administered examination hold the credential of Music Therapist - Board Certified (MT-BC).
What is NMT? Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) is a scientific model of music therapy developed by Dr. Michael H. Thaut and colleagues at the Center for Biomedical Research in Music at Colorado State University. It is a research-based system of standardized clinical techniques for sensorimotor training, speech/language and cognitive training in neurologic rehabilitation, neuropediatric therapy, neurogeriatric therapy, and neurodevelopmental development and adaptation (Clair AA, 2004. Introduction to Approaches in Music Therapy, p. 143)
How do you become an NMT? Training takes place at Colorado State University, Fort Collins. The Robert F. Unkefer Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy provides advanced training institutes each year offering professional designations of NMT (Neurologic Music Therapist), and Fellow of the Academy.
