If you’re a musician looking to supplement your income, why not become a music therapist? Music therapy combines the love and knowledge of music with psychology to offer treatment to help transform people’s lives. It also offers musicians a lucrative second income.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 90.7% of all music artists are undiscovered. Almost 7% are still in developmental stages. Around .2% are megastars.
Clearly, if you’re a musician, you may could use an additional income.
What is Music Therapy?
Music therapy doesn’t involve cutting records or making soundtracks. There’s no streaming involved either. Instead, it allows you to work one-on-one with individuals or small groups to counsel them with the aid of music or sound therapy.
Music therapy involves evidence-based practices to heal present and past hurts and scars and to improve the lives of clients. Each therapist implements their own slant on the counseling sessions but most use music to bring about specific physical, cognitive, emotional, and social goals.
Many music therapists work out of a private office or in a clinic. Others do their treatments in the field such as in retirement facilities, hospitals, psychiatric institutions, and so forth.
How it Works
Music is great entertainment, but it is also a valuable tool for creating energy and for promoting mental and physical health. The American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) claims that music therapy has the ability to manage stress, promote happy feelings, alleviate pain, bring back memory loss, express feelings, promote wellness, improve communication, and to bring about physical rehabilitation.
Music has the unique ability to improve neural plasticity by increasing the production of dopamine, a “feel good hormone”. It also changes neural networks to clear signals that are jammed to create remapping and new connections within the brain. Listening to music can cause the repair of cerebral nerves by adjusting and regulating the secretion of steroid hormones too.
Music therapy in a scientific sense is nothing short of amazing.
History of Music Therapy
The profession of music therapy is a relatively new one although some countries around the globe have recognized it as a discipline within the course of the past 70 years. The concept of using music therapeutically isn’t new at all, however. Over 35,000 years ago, we know that flutes made out of bone existed. While there’s no proof the flutes were specifically used for music therapy, they were used for music and ultimately, music is therapy.
The furthest back music therapy is traced is to the writings of Aristotle and Plato. In the more recent past, music therapy as a profession began after World War l and World War ll when amateur and professionals alike rallied to play for thousands of veterans at VA hospitals in an attempt to offer therapy to those who were suffering from emotional and mental trauma due to the aftereffects of the war.
In 1903, the National Society of Musical Therapeutics was formed and in 1926, the National Association for Music in Hospitals was founded. The American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) came about in 1998 the two major music therapy associations. It is still alive and active, serving as the largest music association in the United States. AMTA is a non-profit organization with the mission of making the public aware of the benefits available though music therapy. Due to the efforts of AMTA, many individuals have seen life-changing results.
The Amazing Power of Music
Especially as a music artist, you know how powerful music is. An upbeat song can zap you right out of a bad mood while a sad song can turn the tears on like a water faucet.
Music is recognized for helping Alzheimer’s patients recall faces, places, and moods. Music is effective for soothing babies and children in pediatric emergency rooms. A recent study revealed that music therapy treatments are effectively able to life depression over a three-month period.
Here are some incredible statistics about the power of music:
• There are currently over 26,000 music therapists in the US.
• Music therapist across the globe treat more than 1.6 million individuals per year.
• 86% of all music therapy clients claim they were helped by the intervention.
• 78% of all US music therapists are female.
• Over 85% of music therapists use technology in their practice.
• 19% of music therapists hold a master’s degree
What Does Being a Music Therapist Require?
As a music therapist, you’d get to combine your passion for people with your love of music. To be licensed as a music therapist, you’ll need to hold a bachelor’s degree in music or higher. The degree must be from one of over 80 AMTA Approved college or university programs. In addition to the academics, 1200 hours of clinical training is required which consists of supervised internship. Graduate degrees in Music Therapy are centered on advanced research and clinical practices. Upon completion of the bachelor’s degree, you must pass the national board certification exam and achieve state recognition through a process specified by each state.
Becoming a music therapist isn’t exactly a cinch but if the calling is for you, you’ll make it happen. Then, you can choose which you want to moonlight at – music or music therapy and the other can supplement your income.
Musicians Helping Musicians
You are probably familiar with the concept of musicians helping musicians in realms like music marketing and other relevant areas. Music therapists often offer their help to musicians because they can relate to the stresses and issues music artists face. Perhaps you aren’t cut out to be a music therapist or have no desire to become one but could benefit from seeing one.
Ready to Sign Up?
Even musicians who aren’t certified music counselors help people heal and work out issues in their lives. If you are a musician, in a way, you are automatically a music therapist of sorts.
If you’re ready to become a licensed music therapist, congratulations. It’s a journey but one that’s well worth the effort.