Frequently Asked Question
How much does the course cost ?
£850 for those funded by their employers. Our self funded students pay only £500, their fees being heavily subsidized by our funding support programme since Autumn 2024.
Can I pay in instalments?
Yes, all students can pay in instalments. You pay an enrolment fee of £50 followed by nine further instalments at the end of each module.
Can I pay in advance?
Yes you can pay in full and in advance and this attracts a further £50 discount for employers and self funded students.
What happens if I leave the course ?
If you leave the course we are unable to offer refunds of fees paid to date but, if paying by instalments, no further payments are required. Remember you can take extended breaks from the course at any time.
What are the entry requirements?
Please go to the links page and click on entry requirements.
How long does the course take to complete?
Ideally one year based upon two hours a week study. If you are currently in a situation where you can dedicate more time to your studies you can complete the course to a high standard in less time. We encourage students to take their time and enjoy slowly soaking up some of the theoretical leadership frameworks that we explore together. Some students have taken three years to finish the course. The learning is open ended and there are no formal deadlines for completion of modules and breaks can be taken at any time to reflect other priorities in peoples' lives.
How much time do I need to allocate?
To complete the course in one year please allow two hours a week plus an additional two hours each for the ten assignments. About 120 hours of engagement in total. Studied in your own time to fit in with other commitments.
The course is distance learning, what does that mean?
Course modules are downloaded from the internet. Each module offers several chapters of reading with links to YouTube videos, some exercises to complete and an assignment to complete at the end of every module. There is a lot of reading and some of the assignments require essay writing whilst others are less formal, case studies, questionnaires etc etc.
Do I need to attend regular meetings on ZOOM?
No, the course can be completed without attending any classroom sessions on ZOOM.
Do we ever meet up on ZOOM?
Yes. We offer occasional sessions on ZOOM sometimes just for enrolled students and other times for our wider community of STN members. We meet two or three times a year. We send out notices of these sessions well in advance and if you decide to join the STN you will automatically receive invitations by email.
Do I need a laptop computer ?
For assignments you will need access to a laptop or desktop computer. The day to day course can be studied from a tablet or even a phone but this is not ideal.
What will I be studying?
Please click on the course curriculum tab on the links page for a detailed breakdown. There are ten modules. Three are related specifically to music, the other seven to leadership skills, professional practice, health and wellbeing. First and foremost our course is a leadership course. We celebrate sensitive responsible creative leadership and explore this through the lens of modern philosophy, developmental psychology, emotional intelligence and the Rogerian clinical counselling tradition. We then encourage you to apply this learning in a responsible way in your recreational, informal music making settings.
Will I be a 'Clinical Therapist' at the end of this course?
No. Students who complete the ten modules are awarded the Certificate in Song Therapy and will go on to apply the learning transparently in their day to day informal recreational music making sessions.
Is registration available?
Yes. There is an optional additional module requiring submission of video evidence of working in community, care or education and upon completion students may then register with us as an ST Practitioner, ST Facilitator or ST Lead. Registration can be renewed annually for a small fee, there is commitment to CPD required (Continuing Professional Development) as well as adoption of an ethical framework.
Registration particularly suits those working in education and other employed settings where evidence of professional practice can help secure the release of ongoing funding for wellbeing music programmes as well as preferential remuneration for those who are members of our independent register.
Students may also register with Complementary Health Professionals if they wish to do so (see below)
Once registered can I call myself a Song Therapist?
No. The occupation descriptor of 'Song Therapist' is specifically prohibited because it might cause confusion with clinically trained 'Music Therapists' who are healthcare professionals qualified to work in formal clinical settings.
Is the course industry accredited?
Yes. Our Song Therapy training programme is accredited by Complementary Health Professionals, a leading light in complementary and alternative health in the UK, now in their 27th year.
Is the course academically accredited?
No. Our independent learning programme fits into the complementary health tradition and in order to keep our course fees to a minimum and ensure our day to day operational independence we made a decision many years ago to not seek academic accreditation.
Our credibility is rooted in the dedication, professionalism, commitment and experience of our small academic team, the quality of our learning materials, the time we have been established, the high public profile of some of the organisations who have sponsored our students, the experience, skills and qualifications of those who join our course as well as their wonderful feedback upon completion.
