Music Therapist

Also known as:

Therapist, Music

Introduction

Music therapists use music to help people with physical, mental, emotional and physiological impairments, for example autism, to express themselves and to develop their potential. They develop programmes to meet the client's needs, and may work in a school, hospital or rehabilitation centre. There are very few vacancies.

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Work Activities

Music therapists help people with physical, mental and emotional difficulties to express themselves. Music therapists do not teach clients to play instruments. Instead, they encourage their clients to use musical instruments and make sounds, as a way of relieving a particular problem.

For instance, clients who feel isolated may benefit from learning to use sounds to express emotions or relieve depression. Others may find that musical movement helps their physical co-ordination.

The therapist, usually in consultation with other professionals and the client, decides on the goals of therapy and works out a programme to meet the client's needs. The therapist has to decide with each client whether it will be better to work on a one-to-one basis or in a group setting.

Music is used to help the client to listen, move and communicate. As a result, clients may develop confidence in their abilities and become more aware of other people. Clients may be children, young people or adults.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

You will need to be mature, understanding, sensitive and emotionally secure. Clients may progress very slowly or fail to progress at all, so patience and resourcefulness are important. Musical creativity is essential and all the training colleges require good keyboard skills.

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Pay and Opportunities

National Health Service (NHS) employees are paid on a rising scale within defined pay bands, according to their skills and responsibilities.

In the NHS, music therapists start on Band 6 of the Agenda for Change pay scale. From April 1, 2009 this has been £24,831 - £33,436 a year. A music therapist principal can earn up to £45,596 a year.

Music therapists usually work a basic 37-hour week, which may include some evening and weekend work.

Music therapists work in a variety of places, including hospitals, day centres, adult mental health units, child and adolescent mental health teams, prisons, schools and hospices.

The NHS and, occasionally, local authority social work departments employ music therapists. Some charities and trusts also employ them. Some music therapists are self-employed.

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Adult Opportunities

It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Some of the approved postgraduate courses are available part time.

New entrants normally fund their own studies, however, it is sometimes possible to get sponsorship from employers or to apply for financial assistance from relevant medical charities and trusts. Further information is available from the British Society for Music Therapy.

• 61% of people in occupations such as music therapist work part-time.
• 55% have flexible hours.
• 8% of employees work on a temporary basis.

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