World Music Therapy Day is sneaking up on us quickly. On March 1st, the world will take a pause to celebrate the amazing benefits of music therapy. Although so many do not knowingly take part in music therapy, this practice has become increasingly popular over the last couple of decades. Music therapy is known to help with a variety of ailments and can improve mental health immensely. Most people around the world enjoy some form of music therapy, which makes it incredibly important for us to celebrate.

1. Check with Insurance
Believe it or not, some insurance companies will help you to pay for music therapy if you need it. Depending on the reason you’re requesting the therapy, they may actually cover the full price. Currently, music therapy is popular for those suffering from PTSD, ADHD, Autism, Depression, and even physical ailments. So, your best option is to make a phone call to see if you can get yourself covered. If not, then you might consider secondary insurance that might focus more on individual diagnoses.

2. Take a Lesson
If you don’t have a music therapist in your area, or you simply can’t afford the therapy, there is a great alternative. You can choose an instrument and begin taking lessons for it. Although this won’t offer the same teaching aspects as music therapy and your instructor won’t offer some of the therapeutic elements of music therapy, it can still help you immensely. Taking time out of your day to learn an instrument is a great way to focus your energy and attention to help divert some of the problems you’re facing. You’ll also learn some of the basics of music theory, and which music types help to soothe you, so you can easily use everything you learn for therapeutic purposes.

3. Check Online Tutorials
When it comes to saving money, the best thing you can do is check online tutorials to see if you can find something that will suit your needs. If you can’t afford to pay an instructor for lessons, then there is a great chance that you will find a tutorial online to help you along the way. This isn’t going to be as helpful as having someone guide you, but so many people learn to play instruments online so you might be able to gain the skills needed to make this form of musical therapy work for you. You can also find tips to help you engage with musical therapy practices, which will definitely add to the value you get online.

4. Rent Instruments
Instruments aren’t the most affordable tools on the market, so if you’re in a bind here you can always rent the item. This will allow you to try out an instrument before you make the commitment to purchase one. Many companies will also offer a rent-to-own option, which might be one of the best ways to save money. However, you could also rent for a couple of months and then purchase from a thrift store or a used music store if you plan to stick with the instrument.

5. Create a Band
If you know how to make music, but want to take your skills to a new level then starting a band might be one of the best options for you. When you create a band, you’re working on team-building skills while also helping you to spend more time with others. Loneliness can play a huge role in mental illness, so creating a band can help combat this. Also, brainstorming as a team can help you to focus your energy in productive ways. If you don’t want to play in person, today’s technology allows musicians to create music with others without being in the same space.

6. Consider Hiring a Student
When it comes to music therapy, one of the best things you can do to save some money is to hire a student. There are a lot of students that are working for certification in this field, which means they’re also eager to get experience. If you’d like to save, their rates are not going to be as high as a certified therapist. However, they are still going to have the basis of information needed to offer you valuable information and therapy sessions. This method will not only help the student get experience but will help you stay on budget. So, it’s a win-win all around. If this option sounds good to you, then one of the best places to start looking for a therapist is your local college.

7. Volunteer
There are many group programs that offer music therapy. Even if you aren’t certified in the area, or have no experience, these groups are often looking for volunteers to help out. This will largely require passing out instruments, helping to prepare for classes and other small tasks that are simple for most to do. Spending time as a volunteer will allow you to experience the therapy while helping out others. So, you’ll be doing something rewarding while allowing yourself to take in the therapy you desire. You may even be able to advance into an assistant position if you volunteer for a long period of time.

8. Free Courses
Another easy way to embrace music therapy is to take online courses. You might be surprised to find that there are free courses that will allow you to do this. In fact, you can even take a course for free that will allow you to become certified as a music therapist. There are many organizations that offer this, so shop around to see which is going to be a good fit for you. Of course, you should pay close attention to this because you may find that some courses are a scam and won’t offer the certification they promise.

9. Follow on Social Media
Social media is one of the greatest resources we have in this day and age. Many professionals use the platform to share valuable tips as they look for new clients. So, one of your best options is to follow a few music therapists on your platforms of choice. You will be able to pull value from the content they share that you can implement into your own practices. While you are following the content, you may even find the perfect music therapist for you that you can invest in if your budget allows for it.

10. Find a Playlist
Believe it or not, just listening to music can be one of the easiest ways to take part in music therapy. You can find playlists online that are designed to help calm you and evoke emotion. However, when you look for a playlist, you should keep in mind that not all music is going to work the same for everyone. So you should definitely explore a variety of lists to see what helps you most. You may even need to come up with your own playlist to improve the quality of the music therapy you receive. You are going to know your mind best, so work from what feels good. Your playlist may even help others if you offer it as a public list.

Music therapy can be incredibly beneficial to your life. Even if you’re on a tight budget, you can still take bits and pieces of the practice to work to improve your life. These ten tips will help you to find exactly what can work for you, so you can feel better than ever.