Music therapist

As a music therapist, you'll use music as a therapeutic medium 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 clients in structured, 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 conditions, including:

• neurological disorders, such as acquired brain injury or stroke
• addiction
• autism
• communication difficulties
• dementia
• learning disabilities or learning difficulties
• mental health conditions
• 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 insight into themselves and how they relate to others.

Responsibilities

As a music therapist, you'll need to:

Therapeutic and clinical work

• use your high level of musicianship and ability to improvise to help your clients engage and benefit from sessions
• undertake assessments to determine whether music therapy is appropriate for your clients' needs
• agree therapy objectives with clients
• plan, develop and deliver music therapy interventions
• take an active role in sessions by playing, singing and listening
• encourage participation using a range of accessible instruments, such as percussion, and the voice
• improvise in response to what clients communicate to support an individual therapeutic relationship
• support clients' creative development and increased self-awareness

Assessment, evaluation and record keeping

• review and assess therapy sessions to monitor their effectiveness and plan future work
• assess your clients' musical and non-musical behaviours
• write up case notes and reports and make recommendations for further treatment

Working with others and professional responsibilities

• collaborate with other professionals to support a holistic approach to care
• attend planning, review and multidisciplinary meetings, and refer clients to other agencies where appropriate
• support clients' families or carers where appropriate
• manage business and administrative workflows if working in a private practice
• promote the profession and contribute to best practice and service development.

Salary

• If you're working in the NHS, starting salaries range from £38,682 to £46,580
• (Band 6 of the NHS Agenda for Change (AfC) Pay Rates).
• More experienced music therapists may earn between £47,810 and £54,710 (Band 7). Experienced music therapists with additional responsibilities such as managing a budget or leading a team may earn between £55,690 and £62,682 (Band 8a) The British Association for Music Therapy (BAMT) recommends a sessional rate from £50.00 upwards per hour for music therapists working on a freelance basis or in private practice.

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 depending on the setting, for example if you're working in a school. If you're self-employed, you may choose to work evenings to meet clients' needs.

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

What to expect

• You'll work in a range of settings such as day centres, special schools or client homes. Sessions typically take place in a safe, private space, often a music room equipped with instruments, although you may need to transport equipment between locations.
• You'll normally meet clients at the same place and time each week, as consistency and reliability are important to therapeutic work.
• You may work one-to-one with clients or facilitate group sessions, depending on individual needs and the setting.
• Most music therapists work as part of a multidisciplinary team. In smaller settings, you may be the only therapist, while larger services may have an arts therapies team.
• Jobs are available in towns and cities across the UK. Working for several different organisations can involve regular travel 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. To register, you must complete an HCPC-approved postgraduate training course at one of the following institutions:

• Anglia Ruskin University
• Guildhall School of Music & Drama
• Nordoff and 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

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 last two years full time or three years part time and include supervised clinical placements across a range of settings and client groups.

You'll need a high level of practical musicianship, alongside academic and personal skills, to secure a place. Many applicants have a music degree or equivalent, but degrees in other subjects are accepted if you can demonstrate strong musical performance skills. Equivalent professional qualifications or extensive experience in a related field may also be considered. Applicants without a degree must show they can work at Masters level.

The application process typically includes a written application, an online music portfolio or recordings, an interview and an audition. Entry requirements vary, so contact providers before applying.

An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (Protecting Vulnerable Groups scheme in Scotland) and occupational health clearance are required.

In addition to course fees, you should budget for extra costs such as personal therapy, professional indemnity insurance and placement travel. Limited funding or grants may be available through BAMT, charities or trusts.

Some providers offer introductory courses for those considering music therapy as a career.

Skills

You'll need to have:

• a high level of practical musicianship, including skills in improvisation and the ability to use music expressively and symbolically
• strong listening and observational skills to understand clients' needs
• creativity, imagination and flexibility to respond to clients in the moment
• empathy and the ability to build therapeutic relationships with clients of all ages and needs
• personal maturity, resilience and emotional stability to manage challenging situations
• clear written and verbal communication skills
• the ability to work both independently and collaboratively with other professionals, families and carers
• patience and an understanding that progress may be gradual
• good organisational skills, including time management, prioritisation and accurate record keeping
• a high level of self-awareness and self-reflection, alongside a commitment to ethical practice, professional boundaries and client confidentiality.

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

Work experience

You'll usually need significant, sustained voluntary or paid experience in a relevant field to get a place on a postgraduate music therapy training course. This experience doesn't have to be music based, but it should involve working with adults or children who have additional needs, typically within health, education or social care settings.

You can get relevant experience in caring, teaching, nursing, social work or therapeutic roles, in areas such as:

• dementia care
• developmental needs
• homelessness
• hospice or palliative care
• learning disabilities
• mental health.

It may be possible to arrange work shadowing or observation of a music therapist, so you can develop a realistic understanding of the role and the therapeutic use of music in practice.

There may also be local voluntary music-related opportunities near you, as well as placements or volunteering with organisations such as:

• Music in Hospitals & Care - provides live music to people of all ages receiving care or treatment in healthcare settings across the UK
• Music as Therapy International - delivers projects internationally, led by a music therapist and supported by trained volunteers.

These types of experience will help you to understand and reflect on the emotional and physical demands of the role, as well as the importance of professional boundaries and reflective practice.

As entry requirements vary, you should contact course providers directly for details of the type, depth and duration of experience they're looking for.

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

Employers

Major employers of music therapists include the NHS, charities and the education sector. Other employers include local authorities and social services. You may also work on community projects, in private practice or on a freelance basis, where demand for music therapy is high.

Music therapy is a relatively small and specialist profession in the UK, and many practitioners work part time, combining roles across more than one setting or employer, often alongside private practice.

You can work in a variety of settings, including:

• 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 research roles supported by charities and trusts, or in universities, teaching on recognised music therapy training courses.

Look for job vacancies at:

• BAMT - weekly job notifications (available to members)
• Charity Job
• NHS Jobs
• NHSScotland Jobs
• local authority and council websites.

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

Music therapists working in 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

Once qualified, you can access structured early-career support through the BAMT Newly Qualified Music Therapist (NQMT) Development Scheme, a free two-year mentoring and professional development (CPD) scheme.

The BAMT offers support and training for music therapists at all stages of their careers, including courses, conferences and seminars, as well as opportunities to network with others in the profession. Training institutions recognised by the HCPC may also run CPD courses.

To continue practising, you must renew your HCPC registration every two years. This includes carrying out and recording regular CPD, which can include a mix 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, for example.

You could also undertake a PhD in music therapy to develop specialist knowledge in a particular area.

Career prospects

There are options for qualified music therapists to work for one or more employers, set up in private practice, or combine employed and self-employed work.

As a newly qualified music therapist, you'll begin leading your own therapy sessions, supported through supervision and line management. With experience, you may take on greater responsibility within a service or apply for more senior roles, such as lead therapist posts, which can involve supervision, service development or coordination responsibilities.

As you gain experience, you may choose to specialise in a particular area of music therapy, such as mental health, dementia or palliative care, or work with a specific client group, including babies, children or older adults. Developing a specialism may involve undertaking additional training.

If you work in private practice, you'll need to build and develop your own client base through marketing, word-of-mouth and referrals.

There are also a small number of opportunities in research, lecturing on recognised training courses, and training to supervise students and other practitioners.