Music Therapy

A major in music therapy is designed to teach students about the therapeutic effects of musicóhow music can be used to promote emotional, physical and mental well-being. Students learn how music has been used to calm, soothe and relax people with psychiatric problems, depression, high levels of stress, or even high levels of physical pain. Topics of interest might include music theory and performance, psychology, human growth & development, and patient/client assessment. Students will be exposed to the evidence-based principles of how music is used to gain specific results in different patients. They will learn to create the right kind of music therapy session for a client’s particular needs, and to document each session to track a patient’s/client’s progress.

People who have a deep appreciation for music and a strong desire to help people should consider majoring in music therapy. Those who graduate from music therapy programs go on to work in hospitals, psychiatric facilities, schools, prisons, community centers, training institutes, private practices and universities. Music therapy works great as a double major with psychology or nursing, as music therapy can be incorporated into both, especially in to holistic nursing. Music therapy majors go on to work in general hospitals, psychiatric facilities, schools, prisons, community centers, training institutes, private practices, and universities.