How to become a music therapist

What is a music therapist?

Music therapists work with people of all ages. They help people to interact with others, express their feelings, relieve stress, and build confidence using music.

Music therapy creates opportunities for people to make positive changes to their physical and emotional health and wellbeing. 

Starting your career as a music therapist

Choosing subjects at school

To get on a course that could lead to a career as a music therapist, useful subjects include: 

• Music
• Psychology
• Care 
• Human Biology
• Maths
• English  

Speak to your guidance teacher about subjects offered at your school.

Education and training pathway

You’ll need a postgraduate degree in Music Therapy to become a music therapist in NHSScotland. 

The postgraduate degree programme you choose must be approved by the Health and Care Professions Council. Entry requirements include a UK honours degree in Music or a related subject and a high level of musicianship in at least one instrument.

Other useful undergraduate degree subjects include: 

• Psychology
• Teaching
• Nursing
• Social Work
• Performing Arts
• Occupational Therapy 

Widening access

Widening participation supports adult learners who want to go to university. If you’re an adult with few or no qualifications, you could get into higher education through the Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP). Many universities also provide access programmes to help you get the degree entry qualifications you need. 

Music Therapy pre-registration postgraduate degree programme

In Scotland, you can do a postgraduate programme in Music Therapy at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh. This pre-registration programme takes 2 years full-time. 

You should contact the university to find out about specific entry requirements.

After graduation, you must register with the HCPC. You can then apply as a newly qualified music therapist for vacancies in the NHS.

Learning and development

During your career, you’ll be expected to keep your skills and knowledge up to date through Continuing Professional Development (CPD). The British Association for Music Therapy (BAMT) provides: 

• training courses 
• conferences 
• seminars  

Visit the BAMT website for more about training and CPD courses.

Career progression 

You may choose to specialise by working with specific client groups, such as: 

• children and young people
• adults
• offenders 

You could also decide to become a specialist in a particular area, such as neuro-disability or palliative care. 

As an experienced practitioner, you could become a senior or consultant music therapist, managing the work of a team of therapists. 

Your progression could include becoming the head of an arts therapy department. In this role, you’ll coordinate the work of other arts therapists. There may also be opportunities to train other music therapists. 

Professional bodies

When you become a qualified music therapist, you must register with the HCPC to work in the NHS. You can also join the British Association for Music Therapy (BAMT).