Master of Creative Music Therapy

Western’s Master of Creative Music Therapy offers a distinctive approach to music therapy training – intentionally creative, contemporary and grounded in real-world practice. Our renewed 2027 curriculum brings music therapy learning, practice and research together through our dedicated on-campus MusicTherapy@Western Centre.

Here, you’ll learn through doing, developing your therapeutic musicianship and professional skills in an environment where students, academics, Registered Music Therapists, clients and community partners come together. Throughout the program, you’ll connect what you learn in the lectorial space with extensive work-integrated learning, building the creativity, adaptability and evidence-based practice needed to become a confident and capable Registered Music Therapist.

Music therapy is an evidence-based allied health profession that uses music to support people of all ages and life stages. Music therapists use creative music-based approaches to support areas such as communication, cognition, movement, social connection and emotional wellbeing.

Graduates are eligible to apply for registration as a Registered Music Therapist (RMT) and can pursue careers across health care, education, disability, mental health, aged care and community settings.

The program is suited to musicians with an undergraduate degree or higher qualification in music, or other areas including creative arts, education, allied health, counselling, psychology or related disciplines who want to apply their music skills in therapeutic settings.

This program is designed for people who want to combine their passion for music with a desire to support the health and wellbeing of others. It may be right for you if you are interested in developing a career where you can apply your existing music skills to support individuals and communities in therapeutic settings.

Explore contemporary music therapy approaches and develop your therapeutic musicianship through a range of creative methods, including:

• Improvisational music therapy (creating music in the moment)
• Recreative music therapy (songwriting and music creation)
• Receptive music therapy (creative listening).

You will learn how to engage in evidence-based practice, critically evaluate and apply research and develop the skills needed for therapeutic reasoning, reflective practice and professional collaboration.

You must submit a 3-page PDF document as part of your application, including a personal statement, details of relevant experience and three video links demonstrating your musicianship skills. Shortlisted applicants will then be invited to an online audition/interview via Zoom.

Video 1: Main instrument: Perform a piece on your main instrument that demonstrates your skills at an advanced level. Your advanced instrument may any instrument, including guitar, piano or voice. By advanced level, we mean that you can confidently and fluently perform advanced repertoire with a high level of proficiency, complexity and mastery of your instrument. 

Video 2: Guitar and voice: Sing a song while accompanying yourself on guitar. 

Video 3: Piano and voice: Sing a song while accompanying yourself on piano. 

You are not expected to have advanced guitar or piano skills unless one of these is your main instrument. For Videos 2 and 3, we want to see how you currently accompany yourself while singing. A simple accompaniment is fine. Focus on matching the key, timing and chord changes to support your singing. Show us what you can do so we can understand your current skills and your potential to develop them through the program.

You are expected to demonstrate an advanced level of musicianship on your main instrument. ‘Advanced level’ refers to the ability to confidently perform advanced pieces fluently, demonstrating an advanced level of mastery within your musical tradition. You will also be asked to demonstrate your ability to sing while accompanying yourself on guitar and then on piano.

All instruments are welcome at Western. While some students do specialise in piano, voice and guitar, we accept instruments from many different musical traditions. In recent years, some of our students have specialised in cello, bassoon, guzheng, drum kit and beatboxing just to name a few.

That’s okay. You are not expected to have advanced skills or guitar or piano, unless one of these is your main instrument. In your application, we would like to see how you accompany yourself while you are singing. A simple accompaniment is fine, focusing on matching the key, timing and chord changes to support your singing. Show us what you can do so we can understand your current level and potential to develop these through the program.

You don’t need to be an advanced singer, unless voice is your main instrument. We recognise that applicants have different levels of experience and confidence with singing. In your application, we simply ask you to demonstrate your current ability to sing while accompanying yourself on guitar and piano. This helps us understand your current musicianship and your potential to further develop these skills through the program.

The audition/interview provides an opportunity to discuss your application, motivation for studying music therapy and demonstrate your musicianship. You will be asked to perform live the same or similar pieces submitted in your application and complete basic aural and technical musicianship exercises.

No. Video submissions do not need to be professionally produced. Use the technology available to you (such as a smart phone) to provide a clear demonstration of your current music skills.

You complete a total of 640 hours (80 days) of supervised Work Integrated Learning across the program, including music therapy placements each semester.

MusicTherapy@Western is the home of music therapy education, practice and research at Western Sydney University. It brings together our Master of Creative Music Therapy; the MusicTherapy@Western Centre (our on-campus music therapy practice and professional learning environment); and our Higher Degree Research Program. Together, these create a connected environment for professional education, real-world music therapy practice and research that contributes to the ongoing development of the profession.

The program combines on-campus learning, online learning and hands-on Work Integrated Learning experiences. You will attend on-campus lectorials one day per week during semester (Wednesdays), supported by additional synchronous and asynchronous online learning activities and two on-campus intensive days each semester.

Yes. The program is accredited by the Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA) and graduates are eligible to apply for registration as a Registered Music Therapist (RMT).

Yes. Research is integrated throughout the Master of Creative Music Therapy, giving you opportunities to develop your research skills and explore questions relevant to contemporary music therapy practice. If you’re interested in continuing your research after completing the MCMT, MusicTherapy@Western also supports Higher Degree Research pathways. Eligible graduates may apply for the Master of Research (MRes), with opportunities to undertake a research project in music therapy under academic supervision. For those wishing to continue further, doctoral research opportunities are also available, supporting the development of new knowledge in music therapy and related areas.