Music Therapy

On this programme, students gain experience working with adults and children alongside qualified music therapists on placements in a variety of settings including special and mainstream schools, and with people who experience:

- Mental health problems

- Dementia

- Learning disabilities

- School exclusion

- Communication delay

- Autism

- Acquired brain injury or stroke

- Social, emotional and behavioural difficulties

During the programme, students must undertake a minimum of 40 hours of individual personal therapy as a requirement from the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). This is an additional cost not covered by the tuition fees (funding support is available - see our Postgraduate Funding page for more information).

Why study Music Therapy at Guildhall School?
You will join one of the world’s leading conservatoires, and will build your therapeutic and theoretical knowledge through an intensive programme of lectures and seminars. Weekly practical musicianship, improvisation and voice classes will help you acquire highly developed skills in therapeutic musical communication.

Working alongside qualified music therapists, you will gain experience working with adults and children on placements in a variety of settings including healthcare units, special and mainstream schools, and with people who experience mental health issues, dementia, learning disabilities and communication disorders.

The programme is influenced by psychodynamic approaches to therapy, and all Music Therapy students undertake their own personal therapy during training. A high degree of self-reflection and self-awareness is required, and gaining experience of personal psychotherapy prior to training is highly recommended.

Tuition is complemented by one-to-one conservatoire-level training in your Principal Study and Second Study lessons with the School’s teachers. The programme provides access to leading specialists in improvisation and an active research community, with the possibility of taking part in research events.