Evie Gillman: 24100164
Witci Research Portfolio: Music Therapy.
The creative industry I have chosen to do my portfolio on is music therapy. I have chosen this career because the emotional element of music is important to me and something I want to share with others, particularly those who need music therapy. Music therapy is using music within therapeutic relationships to help a variety of conditions such as autism, dementia, chronic pain, traumatic brain injuries and learning disabilities. This is achieved by using elements of music such as sound, rhythm, and harmony to help reduce stress and accomplish different goals. Poet and DJ Erin James described creating music as a “therapeutic outlet”1, and states “my writing has shifted from a personal processing of emotions to using it to educate other people and myself as well”. 1 This shows how important music is for an area such as therapy, as it allows the therapist to understand how they can help their client and understand how to treat them and the emotions they are going through.
One qualification needed to become a music therapist is a specialist postgraduate degree in music therapy, supported by a degree in music, as well as registering with the Health and Care Professions Council. It is also important to have 1 to 2 years of work experience within a health, education, and social care setting, as the experience will help the individual with finding more career opportunities due them gaining experience within these relevant fields. Another qualification which helps an individual become a music therapist is an Arts Therapists Level 7-degree apprenticeship, which is equivalent to a master’s degree. According to ‘Gov.UK’ website, this qualification “specialises in the health and science area of the apprenticeship category”2 and allows the individual to receive funding of up to £19,000 during the apprenticeship. It is also possible to join the British Association for Music Therapy, which “advocates for equal access to music therapy for all, promote the health benefits of music therapy as well as organise and advertise related events, support for professional practice, training courses and CPD”2 as it allows contact with other music therapists, whilst providing professional recognition for career development.
An important skill needed to become a music therapist is the ability to work well with others, as the role involves working with a range of different personalities, conditions and situations. Having the ability to listen, understand and be patient in therapy sessions is extremely important in music therapy as some clients may progress, understand and work at different rates to others, and it is crucial to make the client feel comfortable with this. It is also important to have a high level of musicianship as well as advanced improvisation skills, as it allows the client to explore spontaneous creations, and explore themselves in an appropriate way. Improvisation is a valuable way to enhance a client’s emotional intelligence, reduce stress, and increase confidence, by letting the individual create their own story through music. Furthermore, it is crucial to create a safe and welcoming environment for the client. Without this, it may be challenging to have successful sessions as it could reduce comfortability in communicating or exploring musicality. A comfortable, supportive environment is likely to allow the client to reach their maximum potential and this can be achieved through no interruptions during the sessions, and a private, soundproof room so that little to no distractions occur during the sessions. Carla Tanguay states “Music therapists need to balance scientific principles and clinical knowledge with empathy, flexibility, and creativity”3, which cleverly describes how music therapy is a mixture of expressive, engaging sessions whilst still maintaining “profession boundaries.”3
During a music therapy session, the overall goal of the therapist is to improve the clients mental state and symptoms, their ability to communicate, and improve their ability to function in social settings. The clients mental state can be improved in a plethora of ways, for example exploring music that mirrors the clients mental state, then gradually shifting the music to also shift the client’s mood. This method is referred to as the ‘iso principle’ specifically used in music therapy established by Altshuler in the 1940’s as a method to help mood management. Furthermore, it is crucial that the therapist can meet with clients of all ages, as the illnesses and differences can differ between age groups, and it is important that the music therapists can create sessions unique to people’s needs. A music therapist must also know a range of different genres of music, as clients may take a liking to some genres more than others. Therefore, the client can explore different music styles and figure out which genres interests them the most and works the best in sessions. Individual and group sessions are both used during music therapy sessions, which can help to increase confidence and skills such as turn-taking and collaboration in a supportive environment, which can also help the music therapist address more psychological needs. This allows individual sessions to zoom in on the specific needs that the client may need more focus on. Outside of the sessions, a music therapist may investigate their client’s favourite music to structure future sessions and prepare different activities relevant to the features of that genre, to allow progress to be made within sessions.
The day-to-day of a music therapist will depend on if they work independently or for an organisation. Self-employed music therapist’s schedules may not be as predictable and they may have to shift some sessions to suit the client better, and the therapist will most likely have to work evenings and weekends. However, a music therapist that works within an organisation such as the NHS or a school will have a more conventional 9-5 schedule, and music therapists that work part time may also find the need to shift their schedules to fit the needs of not only their clients, but their other roles, such as teaching or performing. Nordoff and Robin’s website displays how music therapist Lorens day to day life looks like working in a school. Loren discusses how she works with a range of different ages across the school, from primary to secondary school students, and organises different sessions throughout the day such as: one to one session, group sessions and lunchtime singalongs. For example, Loren’s sessions with a teenage student named Adam consists of exploring music fit for video games. Loren states “we then move to the instruments. He chooses to play the keyboard and asks me to play the djembe. And together, we work to create a song to accompany the videogame level he designed.”4 Loren then describes the music as “ominous and unsettling”4, which came from improvising and reflecting on what has been created. Loren’s afternoon session then consisted of two students who struggle with socialising. It is stated that “Billy and Isaac choose opposite sides of the room, play different instruments and request different songs,”4 demonstrating how Loren must meet the needs of both students during one session, and has allowed the students to “listen to each other and respect their different ideas.”4
However, some disadvantages that may come with being a music therapist are the emotional challenges. Music therapist Kimberly Sena Moore discusses how working with clients that struggle with their mental health is hard and upsetting to deal with. It is also common for music therapists to feel “lonely”5 in their workplace, as its most likely that they’re the “only music therapy in their place of employment.”5 This can also lead to other members in the workplace not entirely understanding the role of a music therapist, and therefore may been seen as insignificant. Furthermore, Moore states that as music therapy is a “small profession, it may be difficult to have a voice,”5 especially in settings where there’s only one music therapist, for example in schools. This could lead to the mental health of a music therapist declining, and an online survey completed by psychology faculty members and trainees asking who has experienced “mental health difficulties”6 states “80% of those participants reported that they had”6 (Devendorf & Victor, 2022), and “95% of participants who stated they had experienced mental health difficulties also reported it does not affect or interfere with their profession.”6 A concern is raised by NHS health leaders that there is less attention paid to mental health and therefore young people in specific turn to less beneficial coping mechanisms. This could possibly make seeking clients more difficult and make sessions more challenging due to added difficulties and trauma for the patient. Furthermore, if an individual turns to more deviant coping mechanisms it may be harder for them to speak up about their actions due to embarrassment or fear, potentially leading to unsuccessful sessions.
It is suggested by the Music for Kiddos podcast that social media is necessary for attracting clients. Stephanie Leavell suggests a plethora of ways in which music therapy marketing can be achieved. Firstly, she states that it is important to make social media marketing “fun”7 and “generous”7 instead of “salesy”.7 This is to show that the music therapist is primarily looking to help others, instead of promoting themselves in only a money-based way. Leavell also states it is crucial to “decide on your values and ethics,”7 to ensure everything the marketing is promoting is true to the creators’ beliefs, passions and everything the marketing promises is shown within sessions. This will prevent the struggle of going back and altering the marketing in a significant way, potentially saving time and money in the future. Leavell also suggests to “choose your own social media platforms but not overwhelm yourself.”7 She says that 1-2 platforms are enough, and building successful marketing on these platforms can reduce stress around constantly monitoring many different platforms, and instead gradually build the number of social media platforms used for marketing purposes. Lastly, educator and business owner Kayse Morris said that email list building is “about 122% more effective than social media when it comes to making sales”8 as it allows easier direct communication, and one-to-one communication may feel more personal and engaging than seeking information through only social media platforms. Also, Eric Sachs states “An email list allows for a direct connection to your customers and prospects, creating a one-on-one conversation that isn’t possible with mass media advertising or crowded social media platforms.”9 Displaying how email exchanges aren’t only easier for communication, but also allow a stronger bond to be made with clients.
Within music therapy, it is possible to progress in the profession by advancing to teaching music therapy, meaning the teacher trains others to become music therapists. Another developed career path from music therapy is to become a senior music therapist. Furthermore, NHS leaders say that a music therapy career can lead to becoming a “consultant music therapist, where a key task is managing a team of music therapists. Music therapists also hold posts such as head of arts therapy, managing a team of therapists including music therapy as well as other therapists such as art therapists or drama therapists.”10 This includes responsibilities such as: organising events, training music therapists and being involved or hosting events for music therapy.
In conclusion, to perform and accentuate in this profession, it is vital that a music therapist must not only have excellent creativity and enthusiasm, but also great understanding of mental health and effective ways to approach the clients needs. I believe that music therapy is a passionate, expressive way to help others, and it is effective across all age groups, genders and lifestyles to help individuals feel accomplished and heard.
References:
- James Erin. (2021). Youth Music, A New Era of Music Therapy: Young People Rely on Lyrics and Wellbeing. Website Interview. The National Foundation for Youth Music.
- Gov.UK website
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/music-therapist
- Tanguay Carla. (2018). So You Want to be a Music Therapist. Article.
- Loren. (2025). Nordoff and Robins. What does a music therapist do in a day? A day in the life of music therapist Loren. Article.
- Sena Moore Kimberley. (2021). Complexities, Difficulties, and Dissonances. Newsletter.
http://www.musictherapymaven.com/complexities-difficulties-and-dissonances/
- Mental Health of a Music Therapist. (2023) Blog.
http://www.musictherapymaven.com/complexities-difficulties-and-dissonances/
- Leavell Stephanie (2021). Music for Kiddos podcast.
https://www.musicforkiddos.com/blog/podcast17
- Morris Kayse. What is the Best Email Marketing Campaign Strategy for Teachers? Website.
- Sachs Eric. 2024. Why Building an Email List is Important in 2023. Article.
- NHS website.
Bibliography:
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/music-therapist
http://www.musictherapymaven.com/complexities-difficulties-and-dissonances/
https://www.musicforkiddos.com/blog/podcast17
