Morgan Hines

What is Involved in This Work? It involves music. Like singing, instruments, composing music, etc. Clients use music to better their health, physical, mental, and spiritual. Music therapy interventions can be designed to: -manage stress -promote wellness -alleviate pain -express feelings -enhance memory -improve communication -promote physical rehabilitation.

Work Location Music therapists work in general hospitals, psychiatric facilities, schools, prisons, community centers, training institutes, private practices, and universities.

Working Conditions You might have to travel Your hours might change You need musical supplies You might have to go to clients house You might need to travel overseas for workshops Conditions may be noisy, the work can be stressful and challenging

Size of Occupation In 2008 the field lost workers. But now more people are starting to get back into it.

Enter a college degree program that is approved by the American Music Therapy Association Prepare to also complete a six-month internship in a chosen specialty before taking the national board exam administered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists. Investigate the various ways to use music as therapy to help patients who are ill or in pain. Apply your demonstrated appreciation of music and/or your skills as a musician who is caring, patient and supportive of other people to aid you in helping people to heal or at least to relieve their discomfort from their affliction or condition. Look for positions at various types of clinics, children's hospitals, veterans' homes or senior living centers for opportunities to use your love of music as a music therapist. Know that administering music therapy is supported by a broad research base and its effectiveness has been proved in treating a variety of medical conditions, mental illnesses, developmental disabilities, and conditions associated with aging. At the end of your training, you will be skilled and certified in all areas of music therapy.

Possibilities of Moving to A Higher Position If you take additional course work, participate in training programs or acquire higher degrees in music therapy, it is possible that your salary can greatly increase. The Certification Board for Music Therapists offers an exam, which, if passed, earns the individual the credential, Music Therapist-Board Certified (MT-BC). In addition, according to the Boyer College of Music and dance at Temple University, music therapists may be required to take part in continual training in order to stay current with trends of the industry, as well as obtain new information to be put into use in their practice. With additional education and experience, the therapist may advance to supervisor of an entire therapy department, facility administrator, or move into a research or teaching position.

What you can expect to earn when you start. After 10 years. For music therapists who are just beginning, their actual salary may be lower. In 2008, the average salary for those who had one to five years of experience in the field ranged between $22,000 and $100,000, with the average salary as $39,912. This average salary was increased to an average of $42,780 for those with 6 to 10 years of experience. On average, a Music Therapist earns $41,000-$50,000. However, Music Therapists with several years of experience and a Master’s or doctorate degree may earn between $62,000 and $77,000. Your salary may depend on the type of group that you are serving. In 2008, the average salary for a music therapist serving college students was $59,528. Meanwhile, those attending to the terminally ill earned an average of $49,984 per year. the average salary for music therapists serving in a college setting was $60,340. The average for music therapists in the adult day care setting was quite lower: $43,632 per year.

Future Prospects the prospects of music therapy jobs are predicted to increase in the near future. Music Therapy Jobs Music therapy jobs are considered to be one of those which are not at all effected by financial recession. Read on to know more about music therapy job opportunities.

Writing and Speaking Skills? You need to be able to use your writing and speaking skills because music evolves writing and speaking whether its singing or composing. Therapy also can evolve writing or speaking. Therapists need to have communication skills, and writing and speaking are used as communication.

Music therapy can be a stressful hard job. If you love and enjoy music this field is built on music. If you like to help people or see people grow, this job is where you will get to do and see things like that. Earnings might be to little for some peoples needs and expectations, depending on how good you are at your job.