Do you have a passion for music and a desire to help people? The bachelor’s programme in Music Therapy combines musical, personal and therapeutic development in a unique way. Turn your musical talent into a tool for change – and make a real difference in people’s lives.
During the programme, you will learn how to use music purposefully to connect with others and support them in overcoming challenges. You will develop both your musical and therapeutic skills so that, as a fully qualified therapist and musician, you can contribute to the well-being of people from all walks of life.
The bachelor’s programme in Music Therapy is part of a broader department that also includes the preparatory course, pre-master’s, master’s and the professorship in Music Therapy. Together, these form a rich community of scholarship and expertise that is both nationally and internationally regarded as a respected authority in the field of music therapy. We regularly organise international conferences and symposia to share and exchange our knowledge.
This is the only bachelor’s programme in Music Therapy in the Netherlands offered by an academy of music. As a student, you will be both a therapist and a musician. You will be taught by experienced lecturers who are active in professional practice and understand the realities of the field. After graduating, you will be ready to work in all areas of healthcare and welfare, education, or to build your own independent practice.
Neurologic music therapy is a treatment method that uses music to (re)train skills related to speech, movement and cognition. ArtEZ is the only institution in the Netherlands authorised to offer this specialisation.
In the Neonatology specialisation, we focus on music therapy for premature babies, in collaboration with the University Medical Centre Groningen (UMCG) and other partners.
We also collaborate with both national and international developers. In the TechLab, you will work alongside students from other conservatory programmes to explore how technological innovation can support the therapeutic power of music. You will learn to use a range of software and hardware tools designed for music therapy applications.
The Music Therapy programme is firmly rooted in the professional field. We maintain a large network of partners, including mental health institutions, rehabilitation clinics and detention centres. These are also places where you can do an internship or work as a certified music therapist after graduation. The ArtEZ Music Therapy department collaborates with, among others:
The ArtEZ Music Therapy research group (led by Dr. Artur Jaschke) collaborates with the UMCG on research into the effects of music therapy in neonatology and elderly care.
School Lyndensteyn is a school for secondary special education for students with physical or multiple disabilities and chronic illness. We work in conjunction with School Lyndensteyn to develop and deploy music technology in this field.
We have been working closely with Connect by Music for several years. Connect by Music brings music to frontline locations where victims of conflict areas are temporarily being housed. Music for Moria, developed by students and alumni of ArtEZ, is a project that ties in seamlessly with Connect by Music.