ABSTRACT
Within forty years the profession of music therapy has grown dramatically. In the United States alone there are 3,100 registered music therapists as active members within the National Association for Music Therapy (NAMT) and approximately 300 active music therapists who are certified by the American Association for Music Therapy (AAMT), a somewhat younger professional organisation. There are currently 72 colleges and universities which offer a degree in music therapy. In addition to being the oldest creative arts therapy organisation within the United States, music therapy was the first arts therapy profession to develop a certification exam which tested the body of knowledge required for the entry-level music therapist. Currently, music therapists in the United States work with numerous treatment and educational populations of virtually all ages. The music therapy literature continues to illustrate new horizons of clinical applications pertinent to the needs of society.
