Music Therapy in Switzerland
A short overview of the country seems appropriate before looking at music therapy in Switzerland.
The Country
Switzerland is a small country which lies in the heart of Europe. The major north - south connections of Europe run through here. It borders in the north on Germany, in the east on Austria and the principality of Lichtenstein, in the west on France and in the south on Italy.
7'500'000 inhabitants live on 41285 km2 (about 16000sq.ml) and while some areas are very densely populated, there are large alpine regions which are home to far fewer people. 64% of the inhabitants speak German, 20% French, 6.5% Italian and 0.5% Romantsch. Politically the country consists of 26 cantons and half-cantons, which have their own constitution - compatible with federal laws - their own education system and largely decide on their own taxes and policies.
In the spirit of "co-operative federalism", the Confederation, the cantons and the communes share responsibility for education. The Swiss education system is built on a complex interplay between the Confederation, the cantons and communes in such matters as regulations, development, supervision and financing. All these vary greatly depending on the level and the kind of institution. These facts make the development of music therapy training programs extremely arduous.
Music Therapy Association
Switzerland has one official music therapy association (www.musictherapy.ch), founded in 1981 with currently 210 members. As the table 1 shows, of these, only 130 are professionally trained and accredited members. The fact of the two language groups makes all initiatives within the association more complex and individuals from other language areas have no option for training in their own language within the country.
Table 1: Membership 2005, Schweizerischer Fachverband für Musiktherapie SFMT/Association Professionnelle Suisse de Musicothérapie ASM
| German speaking | 157 | |
|---|---|---|
| Accredited music therapists | 103 | |
| Affiliated members | 48 | |
| Patrons | 6 | |
| French speaking | 53 | |
| Accredited music therapists | 27 | |
| Affiliated members | 24 | |
| Patrons | 2 | |
| Membership 2005 | 210 |
The association aims to promote and develop music therapy in practice, education and research. It encourages the collaboration between the different music therapy training programmes, develops professional guidelines and endeavours to guarantee just recognition of the profession within the country which at this time does not yet exist. The possibility of a federally approved examination for all therapists working within the creative arts field is currently under discussion.
The association safeguards the interests of its members, guarantees their professional standard and acts as their representative with government authorities, health insurances and institutions. Furthermore, the association organises continuing education events and conferences. It determines the criteria for accreditation. Accredited music therpists may use the initials "MT SFMT". (see also www.musictherapy.ch under membership / requirements for accreditation)
The code of ethics for Swiss music therapists corresponds to the one of the European Music Therapy Confederation.
Figure 1. The current president of the Swiss Assosiation for Professional Music Therapists , Corinne Jacob.
Practice
Music therapists (of which 80% are women) work in various institutions for patients with diverse diagnosis and problems or in private practice. A large majority does this in part-time positions. However, many do so in more than one institution and see private patients as well.
Swiss music therapists compare well to those of other European countries. While training programs are still at a developmental stage, their quality - particularly because of the required personal therapy and demanding admission criteria - is high.
Health insurances cover a good part of the cost for the services of an accredited music therapist and, while jobs in institutions are still few, the salaries are often higher than in other countries.
Training
The part-time training program in Zurich (bam) - for individuals who already have completed studies on a tertiary level - which leads to a post-graduate degree in Advanced Studies is the only program connected to a college. All other programs are privately managed and operated. Training takes 3-4 years, on a part time basis. Candidates have to be at least 24 or 28 years old (depending on the program) with previous professional qualifications in either education, nursing, music, medicine, or other therapies. Personal psycho- and/or music therapy as well as music and improvisation skills are a further requirement.
Curricula include theories and methods of music therapy, psychopathology, music therapeutic self-experience and - knowledge in groups and on an individual basis. As well, periods of practical training, supervision and written assignments are required. The financial burden for such training to a student averages between CHF 30'000 to 40'000.
The following schools adhere to the curriculum requirements established for accreditation by the Swiss Association for Music Therapy (1650 credit hours):
- Ecole Romande de Musicothérapie (ERM)
Rue du Simplon 6, 1207 Genève
Tél. et Fax: 41 22 700 2044, erm@infomaniak.ch - Berufsbegleitendes Aufbaustudium Musiktherapie (bam)
Geschäftsstelle: zürcher institut musiktherapie zim, Zeltweg 30, 8032 Zürich
Tel: 41 44 260 3037 Fax: 41 44 260 3039, bam@musiktherapie-schweiz.ch - Integrative Musiktherapie (SEAG)
Stiftung Europäische Akademie für psychosoziale Gesundheit u. Kreativitätsförderung
Franklinstrasse 31 a, 9400 Rorschach
Tel. 41 71 244 2558, lomueseag@dplanet.ch - Ausbildung Musiktherapie mit Instrumentenbau (FMWS)
Forum Musiktherapeutischer Weiterbildung Schweiz
Geschäftsstelle: FMWS, Dorfstrasse 40, 5326 Schwaderloch.
Tel: 41 56 250 3117 Fax: 41 56 250 3116, J.marz@gmx.ch
Since 1997, a further training possibility, based on the principles of Anthroposophy exists at the
- Orpheus Schule für Musiktherapie
Berufsbegleitendes Musiktherapie-Studium auf Grundlagen der anthroposophischen Menschenkunde. Informations: Ankerstrasse 14, 3006 Bern, Tel. 41 31 352 4179
Research
Many Swiss music therapists participate in the research projects of other countries. The homepage of the association www.musictherapy.ch gives details on some recent projects by Swiss music therapists.
Literature
The same homepage lists books written by Swiss music therapists.
Representative to the European Music Therapy Confederation (EMTC) and World Federation of Music Therapy (WFMT): Heidi Fausch, hfausch@datacomm.ch
Further information may be obtained at:
Sekretariat SFMT, Sternengasse 1, CH - 4125 Riehen Tel: 41 61 641 79 70 sfmt@bluewin.ch
How to cite this page
Susan Munro (2006). Music Therapy in Switzerland . Voices Resources. Retrieved January 14, 2015, from http://testvoices.uib.no/community/?q=country/monthswitzerland_january2006
