The Music Therapy Degree :D

Greetings! :)

So, I have always been asked,

What is music therapy?

Well, if you are interested in music therapy, read on, my friends :)

I am a third year student in Berklee College of Music, Boston pursuing my degree in in Music Therapy and minoring in Psychology.

First of all, there is a very big difference between music therapy and therapeutic music. People think that music therapists would perform for sick people and would magically heal them.

Well, no.

Facts about Music Therapy:
- It is clinical and evidence based music interventions.
- It is a prescribed, structure use of music/music activities
- It is to achieve therapeutic goals!
transforming a music activity into music therapy.

We, the music therapy students in Berklee (at least) will need to complete the Music Therapy Concentrate throughout a 4 to 5 years program which includes sites visits and internships. Before starting the major, we would need to complete Core Music subjects that takes 2 years and then, take the Introduction to Music Therapy subject and score no lesser than 85%. Later on, we will have to go through an audition, along with an interview to be accepted into the major. 

Every semester, we will be required to attend site visits weekly after we are accepted into the major.

Site visits varies from semester to semester and are as follows:-

- Practicum 1: Special Education

- Practicum 2: Geriatrics

- Practicum 3: Research

- Practicum 4: Adults

- Practicum 5: Clinical Application

- Internship for 1040 hours (6-9 months)

After completing your degree, guess what? You are not a music therapist yet until you are certified by the music therapy board. In this case, I have to take a board certification exam by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) before addressing myself as a board certified music therapist.

Yes, and that is IF I DON'T FREEZE TILL DEATH BY THAT TIME considering I am in Boston. #crazyweatherhello

Right now, I am in the middle of my Practicum 1: Special Education. Yes, there is still a long way to go and I wish to blog about my experience throughout my music therapy degree so that I would not lose my memories and constantly remind myself why I chose this path for myself. 

Just being in the first practicum has been a mind blowing experience for me. This blog will feature on my thoughts about my experiences throughout my entire journey in pursuing to be a music therapist.

Till then,

:)