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Education and Training

Education and training

We work to shape the music therapists of tomorrow

A mission to educate

Education has always been central to our mission. We are the UK’s biggest employer of music therapists and conduct research into the impact of our work, so we know what our therapists need to learn to be effective. Our tutors are all specialists in the field of music therapy and come with a deep understanding of the Nordoff Robbins approach.

Learn about music therapy

Musical social activism

Making music allows the voiceless to be heard, quite literally. As a result, we consider the work we do to be a kind of musical social activism. To prepare you for it, our Master of Music Therapy (MMT) programme will teach you to abandon your own musical biases, embrace new experiences, and really listen to people. This can be challenging at times, but our students say it transforms their entire sense of musicianship.

The language of musical social activism helps me to angle my aims and decisions. I am not trying to change or ‘normalise’ someone but instead trying to create a space for them to justly thrive in a society that is inherently structured to oppress and disable them.

Stella, music therapist
Graduates of the Master of Music Therapy programme sit together at the 2022 ceremony.

Master of Music Therapy (MMT)

A route into the profession

Our Master of Music Therapy is a two-year, masters-level programme validated by Goldsmiths, University of London. It is rooted in the Nordoff Robbins approach, which emphasises practical, collaborative music making. The MMT is one of a handful of Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) approved qualifications that allow graduates to apply to register as a music therapist. This is a legal requirement for working in the profession.

Read about our MMT

A music therapist plays the guitar and sings with a child client in a music therapy session.

Short courses

An entry point into our work

We offer short courses for anyone who wants to learn more about our approach. If you’re looking for an introduction to Nordoff and Robbins music therapy, or you’re a carer and want to understand how music making can make a meaningful difference to the people you support, this is the place to start.

Read about our short courses

At partner organisation Headway, a client happily looks to music therapist Oli, who plays the acoustic guitar.

PhD programme

Research by seasoned practitioners

Our PhD programme allows participants to extend their learning through practice-based research. Their studies also help us understand the impact of our work and evolve our approach. The programme is designed for seasoned practitioners in either music therapy or community music. It is linked to both the Nordoff and Robbins Research Department and Goldsmiths, University of London.

Read about our PhD programme

Want to know more?

If you have a specific question about any of our education and training programmes or are looking for more in-depth information about our courses, you can get in touch directly by completing a simple form.

EDIB

Our commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging

Through our admissions process we strive to achieve diversity in our student cohorts. The same commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging is embedded into our teaching and assessment. It also shapes what we teach – our training is designed to prepare music therapists to meet every client as an equal and think carefully about how they exercise power.

A cheerful client is smiling and laughing, as they take part in music therapy at one of our partner organisations.

Help us enrich lives with music

To make all this happen, we’re reliant upon the generosity of people like you. We receive no government funding, so the transformative work we do is built upon fundraising, donations and volunteering.