{"id":15746,"date":"2023-11-05T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-05T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/?p=15746"},"modified":"2023-11-08T07:50:13","modified_gmt":"2023-11-08T15:50:13","slug":"how-to-become-a-music-therapist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/how-to-become-a-music-therapist\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Become a Music Therapist (Piano Jobs You Can Get)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Have you ever wondered how to become a music therapist? It sounds like an incredibly rewarding job: improve people&#8217;s lives with what you&#8217;re passionate about!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re curious about whether this is the right job for you, you&#8217;ve come to the right place. Here&#8217;s a lightly edited interview with <strong>Olivia Maveal<\/strong>, an accredited music therapist (MT-BC, NMT) and owner of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.summitmusictherapy.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Summit Music Therapy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><p><strong>Table of Contents:<\/strong><\/p><nav><ol><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#1-what-is-the-goal-of-music-therapy-is-it-to-reduce-symptoms-encourage-non-verbal-people-to-communicate-or-simply-to-make-people-feel-better\">What is the \u201cgoal\u201d of music therapy?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#2-are-there-specific-interventions-that-work-well-with-particular-ailments\">Are there specific interventions that work well with particular ailments?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#3-what-kind-of-person-is-suited-for-this-job-how-advanced-of-a-musician-do-you-need-to-be\">What kind of person is suited for this job? How advanced of a\u00a0musician do you need to be?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#4-how-does-one-become-a-music-therapist-education-training-etc\">How does one become a music therapist?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#5-what-are-some-challenges-in-your-job\">What are some challenges in your job?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#6-are-there-any-music-therapy-concepts-that-everyday-folks-can-implement-day-to-day\">Are there any music therapy concepts that everyday folks can implement every day?<\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\"><center><h2 style=\"font-size:22px\"><b>\ud83c\udfb9 Your Go-To Place for All Things Piano<\/b><\/h2><p>Get exclusive interviews, fascinating articles, and inspiring lessons delivered straight to your inbox. Unsubscribe at any time.<\/p><iframe class=\"email-form-include\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/weeklyemail\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe><\/center><\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-what-is-the-goal-of-music-therapy-is-it-to-reduce-symptoms-encourage-non-verbal-people-to-communicate-or-simply-to-make-people-feel-better\" style=\"font-size:20px\"><strong>1.&nbsp;What is the \u201cgoal\u201d of music therapy? Is it to reduce symptoms, encourage non-verbal people to communicate, or&nbsp;simply to make people feel better?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a great question and one that I receive often. The goal of music therapy varies based on each client\u2019s individual&nbsp;needs and goal areas. Music therapy is a clinical process that involves assessments, treatment plans, and progress&nbsp;tracking. During the assessment process, we look at a client\u2019s personal strengths and potential areas for improvement. This&nbsp;guides us during the treatment planning phase, where we can use this data to design goals and objectives that are unique&nbsp;to each client.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Decrease Isolation<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, for an individual with dementia who spends a lot of time in their room, a potential goal may be to decrease&nbsp;feelings of isolation. This may be achieved through consistent group music therapy sessions, in which residents are&nbsp;encouraged to socialize with community members through interactive musical experiences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:80%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"A career in music therapy\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/736ubPebPzY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A video about music therapy as a career by the UK National Health Service.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>This may involve improvising on&nbsp;instruments, participating in a drum circle, or singing along with familiar songs that evoke group discussions. For this&nbsp;population, music therapy becomes a valuable tool to encourage socialization, increase cognitive function, and support&nbsp;mental health.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><em>Improve Emotional Regulation<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To support a client struggling with emotional regulation, a potential goal area may center around developing positive coping&nbsp;strategies. Within this context, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/how-to-write-a-song-on-the-piano\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">songwriting<\/a> may be a potential intervention, allowing clients to explore strategies that can&nbsp;extend beyond the therapy room. Collaborative songwriting can facilitate meaningful conversations between the client and&nbsp;therapist around managing big emotions. For instance, imagine a songwriting session where the client and therapist come&nbsp;together to co-create a song, filling in the lyrics to a pre-existing song structure. This process allows challenging&nbsp;conversations to feel more approachable when framed within the enjoyable and motivational nature of music.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another music therapy intervention for emotional regulation encompasses the use of breathing songs. These are&nbsp;compositions sung to encourage deep breathing and mindfulness guided by the gentle strumming of a guitar, or the soft and&nbsp;steady beat of a drum.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&gt; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/benefits-of-learning-piano\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">14 Benefits of Playing Piano<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><em>Facilitate Communication<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"598\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/26133001\/woman-and-child-music-1024x598.jpg\" alt=\"Girl and woman on brown couch. Girl plays drum with hands, woman sings and plays ukulele.\" class=\"wp-image-15748\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/26133001\/woman-and-child-music-1024x598.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/26133001\/woman-and-child-music-300x175.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/26133001\/woman-and-child-music-768x449.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/26133001\/woman-and-child-music.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.freepik.com\/author\/pvproductions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">pvproductions via freepik<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A lot can be communicated through music that we can\u2019t express with words. Within music therapy, a client who is non-speaking can create a musical dialogue with the therapist in which they can exchange ideas and build mutual trust. This may&nbsp;involve a variety of instruments, such as guitars, ukuleles, piano, drums, handheld percussive instruments, xylophones,&nbsp;chimes, ocean drums, etc. If the goal is to increase communication, the client and therapist may focus on alternative&nbsp;methods of expressing their needs, such as using musical cueing or decision-making supported by visual resources like&nbsp;picto cards. Music can be a powerful medium for fostering communication and self-expression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Through the system of documentation and progress tracking, we establish an ongoing process to evaluate a client\u2019s goals&nbsp;and objectives. Music therapists conduct periodic evaluations, often quarterly or bi-annually, in which we re-evaluate the&nbsp;treatment plan and determine if any modifications or adjustments are necessary. This ensures that sessions remain&nbsp;responsive to the evolving goals and needs of each client.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/03151918\/Olivia-Maveal-With-Kids.jpg\" alt=\"Woman with pin stripe pants holding guitar sitting next to toddler playing drums and young girl.\" class=\"wp-image-15825\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/03151918\/Olivia-Maveal-With-Kids.jpg 640w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/03151918\/Olivia-Maveal-With-Kids-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Olivia Maveal at work! (Photo: Olivia Maveal)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p id=\"block-5c61b3c3-f16f-4218-81b9-b88b1d9c22f8\" style=\"font-size:24px\">A lot can be communicated through music that we can\u2019t express with words. Within music therapy, a client who is non-speaking can create a musical dialogue with the therapist in which they can exchange ideas and build mutual trust.<\/p>\n<cite>Olivia Maveal<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\" id=\"2-are-there-specific-interventions-that-work-well-with-particular-ailments\"><strong>2. Are there specific interventions that work well with particular ailments?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Absolutely. For clients with limited self-expression or emotional challenges, songwriting interventions can be an incredible&nbsp;tool for self-growth and emotional expression. Music therapists may help their clients ease into this process by starting with&nbsp;simple songwriting, including rewriting the lyrics to familiar songs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Within music therapy, there are various evidence-based techniques designed for specific client populations. These&nbsp;techniques use specific elements of music (i.e. rhythm, tempo, melody, dynamics) to influence and change non-musical&nbsp;brain function and behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:80%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"RAS with TBI Patient\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3TKBYFW_bAg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A demonstration of Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>One example is a Neurologic Music Therapy technique involving motor function that has been used widely for individuals&nbsp;affected by a stroke or Parkinson\u2019s. It is called <strong>Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS)<\/strong>, and it is used in the&nbsp;rehabilitation of movements that are biologically rhythmical, such as gait (a person&#8217;s manner of walking). RAS can be used&nbsp;as an immediate entrainment stimulus providing rhythmic cues during movement. In other words, the music can help an&nbsp;individual get into a rhythm\/pattern of movement because it gives hints about how to move in a coordinated way (similar to&nbsp;when the beat of a song encourages your steady rhythm when dancing). It can also be used as a facilitating stimulus for a&nbsp;client to achieve more functional gait patterns, through training and practice walking in alignment with a rhythmic stimulus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:80%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Melodic Intonation Therapy - Longer Phrases\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/t0Vv-JHhIsI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A demonstration of Melodic Intonation Therapy (MIT).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Another Neurologic Music Therapy technique used is <strong>Melodic Intonation Therapy (MIT)<\/strong>. This rehabilitative technique was&nbsp;developed for clients with expressive aphasia. This technique takes advantage of an intriguing aspect, which is these&nbsp;individual\u2019s unimpaired ability to sing. MIT uses sung and chanted melodies that mimic the natural patterns of speech&nbsp;intonation, with the goal of increasing the linguistic aspects of spoken language. For example, a therapist and client may&nbsp;work on functional phrases such as \u201cI am thirsty\u201d or \u201cI need to use the bathroom\u201d. MIT incorporates melodic and rhythmic&nbsp;components into these functional phrases and then involves a gradual fading of the musical elements to aim for more&nbsp;natural spoken phrases. This technique holds significant value for clients seeking to express their needs and potentially&nbsp;regain a degree of independence in their communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p> For clients with limited self-expression or emotional challenges, songwriting interventions can be an incredible&nbsp;tool for self-growth and emotional expression. <\/p>\n<cite>Olivia Maveal<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>For more information on Neurologic Music Therapy and the two techniques mentioned above, visit the <a href=\"https:\/\/nmtacademy.co\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With all of this in mind, I will reiterate that music therapy is a creative therapy, so there is lots of room for creativity and&nbsp;adaptation based on the unique needs of our clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\" id=\"3-what-kind-of-person-is-suited-for-this-job-how-advanced-of-a-musician-do-you-need-to-be\"><strong>3. What kind of person is suited for this job? How advanced of a&nbsp;musician do you need to be?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I believe that it is very important to have a passion for music and a deep understanding of its transformative nature. For&nbsp;myself, a large part of this understanding comes from my own personal journey with music, and the healing role that it has&nbsp;played in my own health and well-being. I think that for music therapists, it\u2019s important to maintain the personal connection&nbsp;we have with music throughout our careers to remain invested in the work.&nbsp;Music therapists should be compassionate and have a desire to support others and to walk alongside them on their journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Musical proficiency is important to providing high-quality sessions that are beneficial to your clients. These skills can be&nbsp;developed within the music therapy education programs, as there are required courses to improve your skills on piano,&nbsp;guitar, and voice before graduating and becoming an Accredited Music Therapist (MTA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I have met a wide variety of personalities working in the field of music therapy, and I believe that each therapist\u2019s unique&nbsp;personality traits, skills, and quirks naturally become a part of their work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\" id=\"4-how-does-one-become-a-music-therapist-education-training-etc\"><strong>4. How does one become a music therapist? Education, training, etc<\/strong>.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Note: <\/strong>Olivia Maveal works in Montreal, Qu\u00e9bec and earned her credential in Ontario. Accreditation requirements in your area may be different. Please research requirements specific to your individual situation.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Becoming a music therapist involves a combination of education, clinical training, and board certification. You must complete a&nbsp;university music therapy program, which involves coursework in music, psychology, and music therapy skills. Each music&nbsp;therapist must complete a 1000-hour internship to gain practical experience under the supervision of a board-certified music&nbsp;therapist (MTA). Upon completing your internship, you must then write a certification exam through the Certification Board of&nbsp;Music Therapists (CBMT) to gain your accreditation. With this accreditation, you can practice under the title of an accredited&nbsp;music therapist (MTA), and you must complete ongoing professional development and education requirements to maintain&nbsp;your certification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&gt; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.musictherapy.ca\/about-camt-music-therapy\/canadian-music-therapy-education-programs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Canadian Music Therapy Education Programs<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/26142049\/olivia-maveal-683x1024.png\" alt=\"Woman with long blonde hair sitting with guitar.\" class=\"wp-image-15758\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/26142049\/olivia-maveal-683x1024.png 683w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/26142049\/olivia-maveal-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/26142049\/olivia-maveal-768x1152.png 768w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/26142049\/olivia-maveal.png 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Olivia Maveal (Photo: Adam Dimla)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>I will reiterate that music therapy is a creative therapy, so there is lots of room for creativity and&nbsp;adaptation based on the unique needs of our clients.<\/p>\n<cite>Olivia Maveal<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\" id=\"5-what-are-some-challenges-in-your-job\"><strong>5. What are some challenges in your job?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I would say a big challenge about being a music therapist in Canada is the lack of insurance coverage for services. This&nbsp;creates a landscape in which many clients have to pay out of pocket for services and causes a lack of accessibility for many&nbsp;individuals to receive music therapy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\" id=\"6-are-there-any-music-therapy-concepts-that-everyday-folks-can-implement-day-to-day\"><strong>6. Are there any music therapy concepts that everyday folks can implement day-to-day?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Music therapy has a large focus on the therapeutic relationship between the client and therapist, and the collaborative&nbsp;process is linked to the effectiveness of music therapy. However, of course there are ways we can use music as a&nbsp;therapeutic tool in our own lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:80%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Does Music Therapy Work?\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0-S-vQd2MLU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A discussion on music as therapy. Does it work? (Psst: it does!)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Breathing is an intrinsic part of singing and music-making. Research has shown that deep breathing can lower our heart rate&nbsp;and blood pressure. Box breathing along with meditative music can be an excellent strategy. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=3ItY2FedCi8&amp;t=1s\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Here <\/a>is an example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britishacademyofsoundtherapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Mindlab-Report-Weightless-Radox-Spa.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">study<\/a> that focuses on relaxation, the song <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/UfcAVejslrU?si=El2u9smsGCUr58bA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cWeightless\u201d by Marconi Union<\/a> was shown to lower heart rate and decrease respiration rate. The findings from this study highlight significant changes in mental relaxation and&nbsp;stress levels linked with active listening to this song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Music can change the world because it can change people.<\/p>\n<cite>Bono (one of Olivia&#8217;s favorite music quotes)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>We hope you enjoyed this interview with Olivia Maveal! Check out more music interviews:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/how-to-become-a-piano-tuner\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Piano Jobs You Can Get: How to Become a Piano Tuner<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/justin-stanton-snarky-puppy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">6 Facts and 6 Questions With Snarky Puppy Keyboardist Justin Stanton<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/colette-maze\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">6 Questions With Colette Maze, the 109-Year-Old Pianist Releasing Her Seventh Album<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\"><center><h2 style=\"font-size:22px\"><b>\ud83c\udfb9 Learn Piano With Real Teachers<\/b><\/h2><p>The best way to learn piano is with real teachers, but not everyone has the time and money for a private instructor. At Pianote, you can get real feedback from real experts\u2026all from the comfort of your own home. Explore our Method and community yourself with a free 7-day trial.<\/p><p><\/p><a class=\"join\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/trial\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TRY PIANOTE FOR 7 DAYS<\/a><\/center><p><\/p><\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ever wonder how to become a music therapist? Olivia Maveal tells us what it takes, what the job is like, and its rewards and challenges.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":15839,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1132],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15746","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15746","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15746"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15746\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15878,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15746\/revisions\/15878"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15839"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15746"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15746"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15746"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}