8 Problems All Music Therapy Majors Face

The inside look of the struggles of music therapy students

1. The "Elevator Speech"

Our professors weren't kidding when they told us we were going to need to rehearse an accurate, and quick, answer to the question, "what is music therapy?"

"Well, it's the therapeutic application administered by a credentialed professional to..."

2. "That's so cool you do musical therapy!"

Let's get this straight: There's MUSIC therapy, and then there's made up thing called MUSICAL therapy...musical therapy might be a thing were you take people to musicals to make them feel better...

3. "I'm just like you! I do music therapy all the time!"

Let me guess, you volunteer at assisted living homes and hospitals to play music for them. That's totally awesome! But it's not music therapy, it's using music therapeutically. Trust me, music therapist have to get a Bachelor's degree in a music therapy program that is approved by AMTA, AND take a Board Certification exam to have the privilege to call themselves music therapist. They know quite a bit, it's more than just volunteering your time.

4. "Nice to meet you! So what's your major?"

Every time you meet someone on campus, EVERY time, this question comes up. Sometimes I just say "music" to save the elevator speech. The poor freshmen who meet someone new every day...

5. Family Thanksgiving

We all have that one uncle who has no idea what music therapy is, refuses to learn, and insists that we are going to be homeless when we graduate.

6. The Struggle of What to Practice

Hm, I've got an hour...should I practice for my guitar proficiencies? Or maybe that piano entrance exam? Or maybe the chord progression for that theory midterm? Or maybe that sight-singing theory test? What about those guitar songs I have to play for practicum? Or my primary instruments, that jury piece isn't going to play itself...oh shoot what about that one really tough spot for my ensemble? I haven't done fundamentals in a while...

7. "So, what do you plan to do with that degree?"

Be a music therapist?

8. We love what we do!

We'll take all the questions and misunderstandings that comes with our major. We know that being a music therapist can change lives, and we're happy to put in the work that will help us be able to do that one day.