Becoming a Music Therapist

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Becoming a Music Therapist Music existed before man. It is part of nature and can be found with the earth itself. Man is, therefore, deeply connected to music through both the mind and the emotions. Whether or not we realize it, music can change our emotions or how we feel even on a physical level. It was only recently that this idea of man’s connection to music was brought into the world of medicine. Music therapy is the technique of prescribing music to a patient, along with traditional medicine. The job as a music therapist can be challenging and many times difficult to handle, still, it brings many amazing opportunities. It is important that before one takes the first steps to become a music therapist, he or she knows what lies ahead. To succeed, a music therapy student must understand the history and science of music therapy, what the job of a music therapist is, and the obstacles one must overcome to before entering the field of music therapy. The history of music and its use in the medical field is especially important for success in studying to become a music therapist. It is thought that the ancient Greeks were some of the first people to use music for healing effects and since then, many “cultures have incorporated music into their medicine” (Levchuck et al 27). After World War Two, doctors with the Veterans Administration began to recognize the effects music had on patients’ health (Turner and Frey 236). This led to further study of the idea and eventually helped to “formalize music therapy as complementary medicine” (Turner and Frey 238). During the 1950’s, universities and colleges across the country began to offer degrees in music therapy (“Careers”). Today, music therapy is available to patients in more hospitals and private practices allowing a greater number of people to reap the benefits that music therapy offers (“Art/Music”). It is being

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