Musician in Healthare
training
Over the past 10 years, this highly-regarded course, a mixture of theory, application and reflection, has led to numerous practices and programmes emerging across the UK and beyond. Build your confidence, learn new skills, and take your music into health and social care settings.
Trainee healthcare Musician
"This excellent course offers musicians an inspirational opportunity to reassess and develop their own musical practice in an enjoyable, supportive and professional setting. For me, it has presented a pathway into a different, very rewarding way of making music professionally."
Training Course
What is the OPUS Musician in Healthcare training?
The OPUS Music in Health and Social Care training is a week long in-person training programme which is led by our four expert healthcare musicians. The training will offer the opportunity to develop your skills and confidence, shadow our musicians, and take your music into health and social care settings.
Through this training you will learn about a lot more ways that people’s wellbeing is affected by music – physically, spiritually, emotionally and socially. We will also discuss the opportunities to introduce music-making into healthcare systems in the UK.
Once you have completed the training, you will have the skills and knowledge to use music-making in health/care settings in your part of the UK. Plus, you will add another string to your bow with another potential income stream.
You will also have the ongoing support of our Artistic Team of musicians and join the OPUS Music Alumni of music-makers who have been through our courses previously and are using the skills they have learned from us.
Why music in healthcare?
Music has proven health benefits. As well as helping to regulate breathing, heart rates and blood pressure, participating in music-making can help manage stress, induce sleep and improve attention and memory. These are just a few of the positive results that can happen.
Who is it for?
Music-making is for everyone. Creating spaces where people can feel comfortable to share their creativity, emotions and individuality is an important aspect of our work. We support and encourage equity, diversity and inclusion in everything we do. The main requirement of participating in the course is a desire to take your music into a health and social care setting.
Is this Music Therapy Training?
Our ethos is all about music-making in the moment, with no underlying objectives, only bringing moments of joy, and connection. Our work is similar to that of music therapists, but we are fundamentally different in our approach. We bring music into spaces to enhance the health and wellbeing of all we meet. Music Therapists often have formal qualifications and are titled ‘Therapist’ and often implement clinical interventions and work with ‘clients’.
What are the requirements?
Musical ability : You must have experience of some kind of music-making – whether it’s playing an instrument, singing, using technology to create music or some kind of mixture of all of these – creating music is something that you can do and have a passion for.
Creative ability : You can be flexible in your playing and are able to adapt depending on the response. You’ll be a good listener and perceptive of other people’s energy.
Career Prospects : To take part in the training we welcome applications from those who want to take music into health and social care settings as part of their career.
What does the course include?
Day One : The first two days will explore the theory and context behind this rapidly growing practice, looking at acute and community-based approaches.
Day Two : You’ll have the opportunity to develop your own musical, personal and professional skills and competencies supported by the OPUS Trainers.
Day Three : Following this, one of our healthcare partners will host two days of practice across a variety of contexts in the Hospital.
Day Four : During these two days you will apply yourself as a Healthcare Musician, with ample time to reflect on practice with your peers and our team of experienced Trainers.
Day Five : The final day is back in the training room, pulling together learning from the week, and developing plans for rolling out your own practice.
How much does it cost?
The course fee is £650 for 5 days of training. This includes the days shadowing in hospital, and ongoing support from the OPUS Team.
Accommodation is not provided but we can recommend suitable places to stay nearby.
How do I apply?
Please use the button below and complete the sign up form to register your interest for our next training course. We ask you to complete a couple of questions (can be written, or videoed) and provide contact details so we can get in touch. You are always welcome to speak to the OPUS team if you have any questions or wan to know more.
Want to know more?
Online information sessions
Join one of our information sessions to ask questions and find out more about this opportunity.
