I'm a Music Therapist

I’ve made it no secret that I enjoy reading (and sharing) music therapy research. That’s why I’m excited to announce that I’ve landed a spot as a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Miami. I’m honored to have the chance working with respected research faculty that are leaders in the music therapy field!

Although I am currently celebration mode, applying to grad school was a long and nerve-wracking process. If you are considering a Master’s program in music therapy soon (or a few years down the road), below is a rough timeline of my application process. Best of luck!

Overall, remember:

-You will make an impression with every interaction you have during the application process. Be professional by replying quickly to emails with faculty, writing in a respectful tone, and always putting your best foot forward (in person and online).

-Organization will save you. Start a spreadsheet to keep all the details of the application process straight and avoid the stress of looking through emails and websites for the information.

-Give yourself extra time. Plan on submitting your applications at least two weeks before the deadline to resolve any issues with letters of recommendation or transcripts coming in late. Waiting until the last minute is dangerous.

Note: This timeline is from the perspective of a board-certified music therapist applying strictly to Master’s of music therapy degrees. The information below is meant to be illustrative, not prescriptive.

Two Years (before submitting application)

Start exploring options in Master’s degrees online by searching the internet or going meeting with university reps at conferences at the exposition hall. Don’t limit yourself: do you want to get a Master’s in a music therapy or a related field (Counseling, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Speech Language Pathology, etc)?

Also, stay active in the field by attending and presenting at conferences, staying involved (and professional) on social media, and connected to your state’s music therapy association.

One Year

Begin to focus your attention on what type of program that best fits your interests and lifestyle. Are you looking for opportunities to be a research or teaching assistant? At the end of your studies, do you see yourself as a well-rounded clinician or as a specialized expert? Can you move across the country or would a local/online distance-learning program better fit your needs?

Then, reach out to the faculty of possible programs and introduce yourself as a prospective student both at conferences and via email. Inquire into the application requirements and what students really excel in their program. Be sure to ask if the GRE is a requirement. If it is, start studying for the GRE with vocabulary flashcards (the hardest part to cram for).

Six Months

Make a short list of the programs you’re interested in. Go through their websites and get details of their application requirements (audition, interviews, etc.) If you’re going for an assistantship, ask if there is an earlier deadline than the school lists for general applications. Take a GRE practice test (free from companies like Kaplan and Princeton Review). This will help you identify areas for improvement.

Three Months

Schedule to sit for the GRE exam if necessary. This will give you enough time to re-take the test if you’re not satisfied with your scores. Also, be sure to update your resume or CV if you haven’t done so in lately. And while you’re at it, take a moment to check in with your online presence. It’s a possibility that you could be googled. Update your LinkedIn page and make any personal profiles private.

Two Months

Start your online applications. Thankfully, with online applications you can often save them to finish at a later time. Also, reach out to your network for letters of recommendation (be sure to ask if they can provide a favorable reference). Consider who will speak to your skills in a variety of situations (music teacher, professor, employer, internship director) and give them specific guidelines of when the letters need to be submitted and in what format.

Six Weeks

Take a few hours to write your statement of purpose. This is the most personal part of your application. Why are you going back to school? How does this fit into your long-term goals? Where do you see the music therapy field going? Crystallizing your reasons for applying will frame the rest of your application’s purpose. Then, send it out for editing to anyone that will read it.

Order your transcripts to be sent to your final choice schools. Don’t forget to send them from all programs you’ve attended (including summer school, transfer classes, etc.).

One Month

Record any audition videos/music that’s required. If you need to do a mock session, recruit co-workers, family, or friends to be your “clients” for a half hour. Send in GRE scores if applicable.

Two Weeks (before deadline)

Submit your online application. Check in with those that wrote your letters of recommendation and double-check that they have sent in the references for all the schools you’ve applied to.

One Week (before deadline)

Reach out to programs to confirm all your application materials were received and appropriate. If there are any hiccups, there’s still time to get everything in before the deadline.

For convenience, I’ve put together my grad application recommendations into a visual timeline that you can find below.