Music Therapy

The focus of the Master's programme in Music Therapy (under accreditation) is the understanding of the effectiveness of music. This is gained from personal experience (phenomenological) as well as from research and brought into connection with human science. During the course of the programme you will practise playing the therapeutic instruments and learn about their practical application. Another focus of the programme is the intensive study of the individual elements of music: tones, intervals, harmonies, rhythms and tone systems. You will intensively analyse their qualities and effectiveness.

The Master's programme is divided into 16 modules and concludes with an academic Master's thesis. Contents from theory, practice and research are continuously combined. The cooperation with two anthroposophical teaching hospitals – Filderklinik, Filderstadt and Gemeinschaftskrankenhaus Havelhöhe, Berlin – is intended to ensure practical relevance throughout the entire programme. Courses for individual modules take place there. The content of the programme is divided into the following areas:

Theoretical foundations and methods

• Music therapy in the context of art, culture and science
• Introduction to scientific work and research in music therapy
• Professional knowledge, ethics of the profession and professional law

Basic medical knowledge and medical-psychological/psychotherapeutic expertise

• Anthropological foundations of health and illness
• Embryology, anatomy and physiology – Special pathology – Psychiatry and psychosomatics – Child and adolescent psychiatry – Developmental psychology and developmental disorders
• Basics of the human biography
• Psychotherapeutic treatment methods

Music therapy basics

• Therapy instruments – Singing voice – Eurythmy
• Diversity of the arts
• Methodology of phenomenology – Phenomenological studies
• Therapeutic improvisation (instrumental, vocal)

Music therapy practice

• Transformation of artistic into therapeutic means
• Music therapy diagnostics – treatment planning and implementation – documentation
• Active and receptive music therapy
• Theory and practice of group music therapy
• Fields of music therapy practice - Forms and methods of music therapy
• 2 five-week internships

Self-reflective activities

• Biography work
• Group music therapy as self-awareness
• Supervision and intervision

After completing the Master's degree programme in Music Therapy (accredited), you can work as a music therapist in a clinical context, e.g. in oncology, palliative medicine, psychosomatics, psychiatry, curative education, rehabilitation and outpatient therapeutic work, as well as in health prevention and in a social context.

Admission requirements

• Several years of previous musical training on an instrument and/or with singing.
• A completed Bachelor's degree in a social field such as music therapy, education, curative education, social work, psychology or similar or a completed music degree.
• Professional experience in a musical, social or educational field of work of at least one year after the first professionally qualifying university degree.
• A successfully passed entrance examination.
• International applicants should have sufficient written and spoken German language skills (e.g. TestDaF4/DSH2).
• In some cases, proof of relevant professional experience may be considered equivalent to a Bachelor's degree programme. Please seek individual advice on this.

Application procedure

You will need the following documents for your application:

• Letter of motivation (PDF)
• CV incl. description of practical experience in music-making (instrument or voice, musical styles, number of years) (PDF)
• Certificates
• Proof of a work shadowing (12 hours)* with a music therapist in a clinic or curative education centre. (PDF)
• Passport photo (PDF, JPG)
• For foreign students: Proof of sufficient German language skills (through TestDaF 4, DSH or an equivalent certificate) (PDF)

*The work shadowing can take place during the 1st semester if necessary.

Please submit your application by e-mail or by post:

• By e-mail to Katja von den Benken: katja.vondenbenken@alanus.edu
• By post to:  
  Alanus University, Campus II
  Department of Artistic Therapies and Therapy Science
  Katja von den Benken
  Villestrasse 3
  53347 Alfter

Selection procedure

If your application is successful, we will invite you to an admissions interview with a musical audition at Alanus University. In addition to the admissions interview, you will play and/or sing three pieces of music of your own choice from different stylistic periods. You will then be given a short music listening test: Interval, rhythm, intonation (not applicable for applicants with a degree in music). We will let you know whether your application has been successful no later than one week after your interview.

Are you interested in the Master's degree programme in Music Therapy (under accreditation)?

Individual counselling:

Are you interested in the Master's degree programme in Music Therapy? We would be happy to advise you personally!
Simply get in touch with Katja von den Benken using our contact form, by phone on 02222 9321-1809 or by email at ma.musiktherapie@alanus.edu.
 

The next info & counselling appointments in 2025 (online via Zoom) with Monica Bissegger and/or Odulf Damen:

Friday, 27 June / 5-6.30 p.m.

Friday, 22 August / 6.30 - 8 p.m.

Friday, 03 October / 5 - 6.30 p.m.

Work shadowing day in class:

Friday, 22 August / 9 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. (with registration)

Application deadline: 15 January 2026

Registration:
You can simply register for the information dates using our form.
You will then receive the access link for the online event.

Dates for the next entrance exams (45 min. per appointment) Campus II – Villestraße, with Monica Bissegger, Odulf Damen:

Friday, 11 July 2025, from 9-12.30 a.m.

Tuesday, 9 September 2025 from 3 - 6 p.m.

Thursday, 9 October 2025 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Thursday, 4 December 2025 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Thursday, 5 February 2026 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.