In terms of alternative therapies, it seems like something new is popping up every week. However, music therapy has been around for much longer than you may realize. As defined by the American Music Therapy association, this practice is the use of music to help in a therapeutic setting by a trained and licensed therapist. In providing the musical background, music therapy helps to guide the patient to healing from trauma as well as to aid in the healing of emotional blocks.
There are a number of ways that music therapy can be used in a therapy practice. Sometimes, it's as subtle as playing soothing music during a session or it might be a situation in which emotionally charged music is played and the patient is asked to react in a dialogue. Appropriate in nearly all therapy settings and age groups, music therapy allows the therapist to communicate with the patient on a different level than they might be able to say aloud.
In some music therapy settings, the patient may be asked to share music that is powerful to them or they might be asked to create musical compositions that will help with their healing process. A patient might write lyrics that will help them put their feelings into words, but in the context of a song, they can distance themselves from these feelings – aiding them in dealing with more difficult problems.
Sometimes, music therapy is used in nursing homes and in mental health institutions to help establish a rapport with patients and to assist with emotional troubles. This type of therapy may be used in a private session or it may be used in a group setting, depending on the goal of the musical selection. Often, it is combined with dialogue therapy to change the mood and the answers that the patient may give.
Interestingly enough, most people practice some sort of music therapy for themselves when they are stressed or when they are happy. By playing uplifting music, you might be able to shake yourself out of a funk, while playing somber music can help you delve deeply into a period of sadness. Clubs and stores often choose their music based on the moods they want to create in their customers – another sort of music therapy.
With music therapy, you are interacting with the brain and its ability to process the notes in order to light up different parts of the brain that need help lighting up and functioning properly. Scientifically sound, this type of therapy is helping many people find the right notes of their life.
Choosing a school is never a simple task. When you are trying to find a place that will guide you toward your academic and personal goals, not all music therapy schools are made alike. You need to weigh several factors in choosing the program that's right for you. While this process is time consuming, the best music therapy schools are out there – if only you a few hours of your time to carefully consider your options.
The first thing that most people look for in music therapy schools is their accreditation status. You generally want to apply to programs where the curriculum has been verified by the national accreditation board so that you can potentially teach at higher education systems or transfer your credits to another program later in your learning. It is simple enough to find the answer to this question – ask the school enrollment office when you sign up for more information. They will let you know if you are looking at an accredited school or not. While there's nothing necessary wrong with a non-accredited school, it can limit your career options down the road.
The next thing to look for in music therapy schools is the price. Though student loans and grants are often used to help pay for education these days, that doesn't mean that you need to borrow a bunch of money to get your degree. Find programs that are reasonable in cost so that you can focus on what you are learning, rather than what you are paying for the education you are receiving. It will help to determine a range of prices for your schooling as well as to figure out what you can afford to pay each month, if they offer a monthly installment plan. Limiting the amount of money you need to borrow is always good advice.
But it's the programs at music therapy schools that you should really focus on. Look at the classes they offer, when they are offered, and who the teachers are. You want to sign up at a school where the teachers are already professional music therapists as they can give you a better idea of what to expect in your career and what you need to learn before you will be ready. Though the reputation of a school might be something that's appealing to you, another factor to consider is class size. You don't want to be lost in the masses of a larger school when you could be going to a lesser know, but still solid school, getting the attention you need.
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