Music Therapy as an established health field began after World War I and World War II when traveling musicians would play for verterans suffering both psychological and physical effects of war. In 1944, Michigan State University was the premier educational institute to offer a degree in music therapy. In the early 1950's the National Association for Music Therapy (NAMT) was founded and the American Association for Music Therapy was founded in 1971. These two organizations joined forces in 1998 to become The American Music Therapy Association (AMTA).
AMTA defines music therapy as, "an established health care profession that uses music to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals of all ages. Music therapy improves the quality of life for persons who are well and meets the needs of children and adults with disabilities or illnesses. (AMTA 2007)
Music therapists are responsible for assessing the physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual needs of each client. Through such an assessment they are able to design and implement a customized treatment plan to target non-musical, individualized treatment goals and objectives.
Music therapists have completed an approved undergraduate or graduate degree in music therapy and have completed a six-month clinical internship at an approved site. After completing their coursework and internship, they are eligible to sit for the national board certification exam. After passing this exam, music therapists hold the MT-BC credential (music therapist, board-certified).
Music therapy is a beneficial treatment modality for children and adults of all ages. You can find music therapists working with the mentally retarded and developmentally delayed, the terminally ill, those suffering from chronic pain, psychiatric patients and trauma survivors, older adults and those suffering from Alzheimer's, dementia, and other age-related challenges, general medical patients, and many many more.