Music therapist

Music therapists use music creatively to help clients address their social, emotional, psychological, physical or communication needs

As a music therapist, you'll use the medium of music to help people express themselves, connect and communicate with others and the world around them and improve their sense of wellbeing.

Through a range of musical styles, genres and instruments, you'll support and guide your clients in meaningful interactions with music, and where possible facilitate positive change.

You can work with babies, children and adults of all ages and social backgrounds, either individually or in groups, and in a range of clinical settings.  

Types of conditions and issues that music therapy can help

Your clients may be affected by a range of injuries, illnesses, disabilities, challenges or difficulties including:

• neurological disorders, such as acquired brain injury or stroke
• addiction
• autism
• communication delay
• dementia
• learning disabilities
• mental illness
• school exclusion
• serious illness, such as cancer
• social, behavioural and emotional difficulties, and issues affecting general wellbeing, such as anxiety.

You may also work with those who want to gain an insight into themselves and how they relate to others.

Responsibilities

As a music therapist, you'll need to:

• use your high level of musicianship and ability to improvise to help your clients engage and benefit from their musical sessions
• undertake assessments to determine whether music therapy is appropriate for your clients' needs
• agree therapy objectives with your clients
• plan, develop and deliver music therapy interventions to meet your clients' needs
• take an active role in sessions by playing, singing and listening
• encourage your clients' participation by using a range of accessible musical instruments, such as percussion and their own voice, to express themselves
• support your clients' creative development
• help your clients develop an increased self-awareness
• improvise with music as a reaction to what your clients are communicating to enhance the individual nature of your relationship
• review and assess therapy sessions to monitor their effectiveness and to help plan subsequent sessions
• assess your clients' musical and non-musical behaviours
• write up case notes and reports and make recommendations for further treatment
• collaborate with other professionals involved in the care of your clients, such as doctors, paediatricians, speech and language therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, teachers and social workers, to provide a holistic approach to their care
• attend planning, review and other multidisciplinary meetings, and refer clients to other agencies where appropriate
• manage business and administrative workflows if working in a private practice
• support your clients' families or carers where appropriate
• promote the profession of music therapy and contribute to best practice and the development of services.

Salary

• If you're working in the NHS, starting salaries range from £35,392 to £42,618 (Band 6 of the NHS Agenda for Change (AfC) Pay Rates)
• More experienced music therapists may earn between £43,742 and £50,056 (Band 7)
• Experienced music therapists who have also demonstrated that they can manage additional responsibilities such as managing a budget or leading a team may earn between £50,952 to £57,349 (Band 8a).

Fees for music therapists working in the private sector are usually negotiated between the employer and employee. The British Association for Music Therapy (BAMT) recommends a sessional pay rate of £40 to £60 per hour.

When negotiating fees, use the NHS pay structures as a guide and make sure you factor in all the costs involved in running a session - this includes room rental, heating and lighting, indemnity insurance, maintenance of instrument stock, travel, supervision and meetings.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Full-time music therapists typically work Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, although working hours vary, for example, if you're working in a school. You may also need to work evenings if you're self-employed to meet your clients' needs.

Many music therapists work part time, combining music therapy with other job roles, such as teaching or performance. Self-employment is common.

What to expect

• You'll normally work between a base and wherever your clients are located, such as a day centre, special school or their home. You may work in a music room equipped with a range of instruments, but you may need to transport instruments from setting to setting. Whatever the setting, it needs to be a safe and private space.
• You'll usually meet your clients in the same place at the same time each week because consistency and reliability are important.
• You may work on a one-to-one basis with a client or in a group setting with many clients. In most cases, you'll work as part of a wider multidisciplinary team. In large units, you may be part of an arts therapies team, while in small units you could be the only therapist.
• Jobs are available in towns and cities throughout the UK.
• If you work for several different organisations, you're likely to spend time travelling to and from different workplaces during the week.

Qualifications

You must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) to work as a music therapist in the UK. This involves completing professional training at postgraduate level at one of the following institutions approved by the HCPC:

• Anglia Ruskin University
• Guildhall School of Music & Drama
• Nordoff Robbins - course validated by Goldsmiths, University of London
• Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
• University of Derby
• University of Roehampton
• University of South Wales
• University of the West of England, Bristol

Graduates from these programmes are eligible to apply for HCPC registration. Visit the HCPC website for a current list of approved courses. You can also join the British Association for Music Therapy (BAMT) as a trainee member while studying and as a practitioner member once qualified.

Courses usually last two or three years, depending on the institution, with options for studying full or part time. Clinical placements form part of your training and cover a range of work settings and client groups.

You'll need a high level of practical musicianship, as well as academic and personal skills, to get a place on a training course. Although many applicants have a music degree or equivalent, it's also possible to get a place on a course if your degree is in another subject, as long as you can show proficiency in musical performance. An equivalent professional qualification or extensive experience in a related field may also be acceptable.

If you don't have a degree you'll need to prove you have the necessary academic skills to work at Masters level.

The application process typically includes a written application, an interview and an audition. Contact individual course providers for entry requirements as they may vary between institutions.

You'll also need to undergo an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (Protecting Vulnerable Groups scheme in Scotland).

Some course providers provide introductory courses for those thinking about a career in music therapy.

As well as course fees, you will also have to pay additional costs for items such as personal therapy, personal indemnity insurance, placement travel costs and criminal records checks.

Funding or grants towards music therapy training may be available from a range of organisations, such as the BAMT, charities or trusts. Contact course providers to see if they have any funding opportunities.

Skills

You'll need to have:

• a high level of musicianship
• skills in improvisation and the ability to use music symbolically and expressively
• listening and observational skills to help understand your clients' needs and issues
• creativity and imagination
• enthusiasm and the ability to motivate others
• written and verbal communication skills
• the ability to work collaboratively with other medical and educational professionals, parents, relatives and care workers as well as on your own
• personal maturity, resilience and emotional stability to deal with challenging situations
• the ability to empathise with clients of all ages and with wide-ranging needs
• flexibility and adaptability - sessions can't be rigidly pre-planned as you need to respond to the needs of your client
• patience - music therapy is not exclusively results-based and progress may be slow
• respect for client confidentiality
• the ability to manage your time effectively
• attention to detail as you will need to keep accurate records and provide reports
• the ability to prioritise your work and to cope with competing pressures
• a high level of self-reflection and self-awareness
• self-motivation, particularly if you're self-employed.

If working in private practice, you'll also need business and administration skills.

Work experience

You'll need work experience in a relevant field to get a place on a postgraduate training course. This doesn't have to be music-based but you will need to have substantial voluntary or paid experience with adults or children who have additional needs in areas such as health, education or social care. This experience will help you to understand the work you'll be doing as a music therapist, which can be physically and emotionally challenging.

Working in any of the following settings will enable you to gain some relevant experience:

• dementia care
• developmental difficulties
• homelessness
• hospice care
• learning disabilities
• mental health.

Contact course providers for details on the type and amount of experience they're looking for.

There may be local voluntary music-specific opportunities near you, as well as with the following providers:

• Music in Hospitals & Care - provides live music to people of all ages receiving care or treatment for an illness or disability in a range of healthcare settings throughout the UK
• Music as Therapy International - delivers projects internationally, which are led by a music therapist and volunteer assistant.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

Major employers of music therapists include the NHS and the education sector. Other employers include charities and social services. You could also work on community projects, in private practice or on a freelance basis.

You can work in a variety of settings, such as:

• care homes and other residential settings
• child development and children's centres
• clients' homes
• community spaces
• day centres
• hospices and related outreach settings
• NHS and private hospitals
• prisons
• rehabilitation centres
• mainstream schools and nurseries
• special schools and pupil referral units
• specialist music therapy centres.

Opportunities also exist in clinical work and research, supported by charitable organisations and trusts, or in universities, lecturing on one of the recognised training courses.

You can work in private practice, or on a freelance basis, where there's a constant demand for music therapy.

Look for job vacancies at:

• Charity Job
• NHS Jobs
• NHSScotland Jobs

BAMT also offers a monthly ebulletin to its members, which includes job alerts.

Jobs are sometimes advertised on networking sites, such as LinkedIn.

Music therapists working in a private practice or on a freelance basis may receive referrals for clients. Referrals can come from healthcare teams, schools, or community referrals from other therapists. Clients can also self-refer.

Professional development

As a practising music therapist, you're legally required to register with the HCPC and renew your registration every two years. To stay registered, you must keep a record of your continuing professional development (CPD) activities, which can include a mixture of:

• work-based learning - supervision, in-service training, peer review and discussion with colleagues
• professional activity - involvement in a professional body such as the BAMT, lecturing and teaching and presenting at conferences
• formal training and education - top-up courses, writing papers or articles and undertaking research
• self-directed learning - reading professional journals and news articles.

The BAMT offers support and training for practising music therapists, including courses, conferences and seminars. This gives you the chance to develop new knowledge and skills and to network with others in your field.

Training institutions recognised by the HCPC may run CPD courses. You could also do a PhD in music therapy to develop your knowledge in a particular area.

Career prospects

As you gain experience, you may choose to specialise in one particular area, such as mental health, dementia, palliative care or child development, or work in two or three areas of interest. You can also choose to complete additional training to specialise in a specific area of work. There are options to work for an employer, set up in private practice or a combination of both.

As a newly qualified music therapist, you're encouraged to run your own therapy sessions with support from a line manager. With experience, you can apply for more senior posts within the music therapy team, such as consultant music therapist. In this role, you'll manage a team of music therapists. Other opportunities for career progression include day centre manager or managing other therapy specialisms. This usually involves taking on additional supervisory and management responsibilities.

If you work for yourself, you'll need to build up your own client base. You'll rely upon sessional payment from consultations, rather than a regular income, and must factor in the costs involved in running a session. Some music therapists choose to undertake private practice work in addition to working for an employer.

There are also opportunities for research and lecturing on one of the approved training courses and to train to supervise other practitioners and students.