Are you looking to start your own music therapy business, but don’t know where to begin?

Do you want to start a side hustle offering creative resources to bring in passive income, but feel overwhelmed with the tech side of things?

I can relate.

Starting a music therapy business can feel overwhelming. There are taxes, licenses, and registrations. There are NPIs and EINs, and everything varies by state!

As someone who likes clear, step-by-step instructions for how to do things, but couldn’t find this kind of information when I was starting my business, I wanted to create this for other music therapists.

MT Biz 101 is an E-Course designed to shorten the learning curve and show you in simple, concrete steps how to launch and grow a successful music therapy business.

Do not let the overwhelm or uncertainty stop you.

Having a successful music therapy business has changed my life for the better and it will change yours too.

You get to create a schedule that works for you (Want a Mon – Thurs work week? No problem. Want to finish your work day by 3pm? You got it).

You get to choose the work that lights you up the most, whether it’s creating E-Books, doing direct client service, or managing a team of therapists.

And, you get to set your rates, take control of your finances, and make a great living doing what you love.

The MT Biz 101 E-Course will take you through the steps needed to launch and grow your business, and it is now open for enrollment!

In Part 1, you’ll:

• Go through the clear cut, step-by-step instructions for how to start your business, even if you have just one private client and zero business experience or training (like me!)
• Hear the honest pros and cons of business ownership (spoiler alert – there are more pros than cons).
• Read several articles and use the Business Brainstorming Worksheet to help you: define your Why, determine your goals in starting this business, and articulate what sets you apart from other companies that are similar.
• Discover the one phrase I learned from my business mentor that helps me get unstuck Every Single Time I run into a roadblock.

In Part 2, you’ll:

• Go deeper into the nuts and bolts of launching and growing your business.
• Dive into topics such as: marketing, pricing, paperwork, multiple streams of income (my personal favorite!), and building your team.
• Read several articles on gaining and retaining clients, as well as marketing.
• Use the Business Brainstorming Worksheet to clarify the steps and organize the information needed to launch your business – everything from the name and number of your accountant, to your state’s funding sources, to your favorite business podcasts.
• Find out my no-nonsense answers to questions like – What do I charge? Should I offer free trial sessions? And, can I give discounts? (My answer may surprise you).
• Learn how to create multiple streams of income to set yourself up for financial security (believe it or not, this one can be FUN).

The MT Biz 101 E-Course has two packages available:

🎼 Basic: E-Course 
3 months of access
8 continuing ed credits (pre-approved by CBMT)
After watching the E-Course videos, you’ll read articles on business growth and development, and complete Business Brainstorming Worksheets. These worksheets prompt you to set goals and a vision for your business, and encourage you to organize the information you need to launch and grow your business.

♪ Pro: E-Course | Article Reviews + Reflection | Minisodes + Journaling | Business Coaching
6 months of access
20 continuing ed credits (pre-approved by CBMT)
In the Pro Package, in addition to the E-Course, you’ll have access to resources and coaching that will allow you to dig deeper into the course material, and help you create a business that’s not only successful, but one that you truly enjoy running.

For the Article Reviews + Reflection portion of the program, you’ll:

• Read articles that allow you to go deeper into some of the topics that were touched on in the E-Course: setting and achieving goals, creating a positive customer experience, and marketing best practices.
• Complete a Business Brainstorming Worksheet designed to help you pull out the relevant information, apply it to your business, and use that information to create a plan of action that will take your business to the next level.

For the Minisodes + Journaling portion of the program:

• You’ll receive 6 minisodes (think mini-podcasts) from me, encouraging you to dive more deeply into some of the topics that were touched on in the course. But whereas the E-Course focused on the “nuts and bolts” of business ownership, this portion of the program encourages you to delve into the mindset shifts that are needed to make your business a success.
• The minisodes have audio prompts that encourage you to brainstorm, journal, and answer some guide questions. This portion of the program is meant to be creative and FUN, and help you dream big!

For the One-on-One Business Coaching, you’ll:

• Have access via email and Zoom calls to ask me any questions as you go through the course. The questions can be related to the topic of the month (see below), or something you’ve been working through and wondering about. This coaching will help you get unstuck so you can move forward with growing your business.

Month 1 – Overview & Welcome
Month 2 – Creating a Vision for your Ideal Business
Month 3 – How to be a Magnet for Clients
Month 4 – Setting your Rates + Creating Multiple Streams of Income
Month 5 – Building your Support Network + Surrounding yourself with Successful People
Month 6 – Potpourri – Any Questions Welcome!

Choose the package that’s the best fit for you and click “I’m In!” (and remember – this course is a deductible business expense!) –

Your Instructor, Amy Kalas Buser, MM, MT-BC:

• Received her BM and MM degrees in music therapy from University of Miami (UM)
• Has run a successful business for nearly 20 years
• Leads a team of 17 music therapists who provide services across FL, PA, MD, & DC
• Serves as an Adjunct Professor of Music Therapy at UM, teaching music therapy courses online
• Has research on joint attention published in the Journal of Music Therapy
• Has taught the popular E-Courses: The Autism & Special Needs Course (previously on Music Therapy Ed), Tune In To Teens, and The Attention & Perception E-Course

Here’s what course participants are saying about the MT Biz 101 E-Course – 

“I would recommend this course to others! Amy is very thorough, engaging, and articulate. I left each video with new insights and skills to use towards starting my own business. I would recommend this course to everyone – not just people who want to start a business, but also those who are simply interested in learning about the business side of music therapy. 

“I loved the worksheets! I liked how they walked you through everything step by step and broke things down. I can get too excited about a project and miss some details, so this was good for me to help me slow down and focus on every aspect of brainstorming. 

Thank you for making this course engaging. In my opinion, there are music therapy courses that are too information focused and can get boring or redundant.”
– Katelyn Yanovitch, MT-BC

“I would recommend this course because it provides a great perspective on music therapy businesses. I enjoyed the worksheets because it truly helped me start thinking and brainstorming about details of a business that I hope to start in the future.”
– Emily K, MT-BC

Here’s what music therapists and educators are saying about Amy’s other E-Course offerings:

The Autism & Special Needs E-Course (previously on Music Therapy Ed) –

“It was THE best course I have taken!! I love how she gave it to you in words, then SHOWED you!! It was perfect. Please teach another course! I love your style and would love to see more from you!”
– Amanda White, MT-BC

“I am so excited about this course! I LOVE the resources and songs you have included. I had an AHA moment during each lesson so far. I couldn’t stop watching the videos, I just got so excited. Now I’m going to go back and watch them all again and complete the action steps!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE this course! So very useful!”
– Julie DeKeyzer, MM, MT-BC

Tune In To Teens – Creative Ideas for Connection & Music Therapy Session Planning –

“I think this was the most organized and clearly presented online music therapy course I have ever taken. Thank you for so much for the valuable and useful information. I really appreciated the amount of specific, practical, and useful ideas.”
– John Kneip, MT-BC • Music Therapist

“Lifesaver course. I’m working with high school and post-grad students for the first time. I struggled to make relevant, age-appropriate activities, and your course was the first thing I turned to. I’m having an easier time of it now and I thank you for the great information!”
– Julia Sullivan, MT-BC • Music Therapist

“Amy is very knowledgeable and quite obviously loves what she does. I believe that many music therapists would benefit from her knowledge of this particular clientele and well as the push to find your own creativity again. So often we get bogged down in the day to day and just need to reconnect and get some fresh insight.”
-Cynthia Fahey, MT-BC • Music Therapist

The Attention & Perception E-Course –

“Thank you for creating The Attention and Perception E-Course!  I have been encouraged, inspired, and moved to action by the way you presented this subject.  Instructions to “Stop now and fill out creativity worksheet” were effective and I used several of the ideas that same week.  My clients have responded positively to both the interventions and my renewed excitement.  Your E-Course has been worth every penny and my clients  and I thank you!”
– Lynda Miller, MT-BC

“I found that everything was clearly explained and loved the examples that followed. I would definitely recommend the course to others. I personally feel much more prepared to work with these young clients and feel that this course would provide anyone with fantastic new approaches. Thank you for another wonderful course!”
– Kaitlyn Southgate, Music Teacher

“Would I recommend the course to others? Oh, absolutely. Your voice is easy to listen to, your videos are excellently edited, and your material is succinct and straightforward. For someone with ADD, this was AWESOME and so simple to stay attentive. The edited videos of client interventions seamlessly fit into the instruction videos. It made it so easy to mentally jump from what a therapist can do to use this information and these techniques. Thank you for making it a fun learning experience!”
– Sarah Jarvis, Music Therapy Intern

“I loved the videos! It allowed me to see everything from the the slides being put into action. Which helps me a lot! I would recommend the course to others, because it is a great way to learn and understand about the clients you are serving and gave great ideas for interventions on how to serve them.”
– Ashley Grampp, Music Therapy Intern

“Very informative and clear information from a real world perspective. Thank you again for such a great course, well organized too. I was telling my husband today that you are a gifted instructor and I think anyone who presents information could benefit from your content.”
– Carolyn Perkins, Music Teacher

Other E-Books & Resources –

“I highly recommend Amy’s book, Tuneful Teens. When I first started out as a new music therapist, the population that intimidated me the most was the tween and teen crowd. That’s why I was so excited when my friend and fellow music therapist Amy Kalas Buser launched her E-Book, Tuneful Teens. Amy provides everything you need — step by step procedures, templates, sheet music, etc. — to implement the interventions in your music therapy sessions.”
– Rachel Rambach, MM, MT-BC • Music Therapist

“I hope you keep creating more E-Books and CMTE online courses. I love all the ones you currently have available. You are great and your ideas and presentation are so creative and also easy to implement, as you do a great job of “breaking” all the interventions down. Thank you and please keep creating!”
– Michelle Nettle, MT-BC • Music Therapist

Who is this course designed for?

Music therapists or music educators who are starting or would like start their own business. The course is geared towards those who would like to build a service based business, however the information is also very relevant to those who would like to sell their songs and resources online.

How is the course set up?

There are two packages to choose from – the Basic Package and the Pro Package.

The Basic Package includes the E-Course, articles to read and review, and Business Brainstorming Worksheets to complete. You’ll also have access to the slide decks (i.e. PowerPoints) and a Business Resource List. You can work through the material at your own pace and have 3 months to complete the course.

The Pro Package includes everything from the Basic Package (E-Course, articles, Business Brainstorming Worksheet, and slide decks), PLUS an additional Article Review portion, Minisodes with journal prompts, and one-on-one Business Coaching. You can work through the material at your own pace and have 6 months to complete the course.

How do I purchase online?

It’s easy. Just choose the package that’s the best fit, and click on the button that says “I’m In!” You’ll enter your payment information (via Paypal, debit card or credit card). Following that, you’ll receive an email from me that welcomes you to the course and provides you with the link to register. You’ll create a unique and secure username and password that will allow you to access the course at any time from the comfort of your home.

Can I pay with a debit or credit card?

Yes absolutely! Select the button that says “I’m In! Pay with credit card.” Remember – this course is a deductible business expense :)

Do you accept Purchase Orders?

Absolutely. To request an estimate or an invoice, or to submit a Purchase Order, email me at Amy@WHmusictherapy.com or click here to send me an email via our contact form.

Once I’m registered, how do I access the course?

To access the course, you’ll click on the Login button in the navigation bar of the Wholesome Harmonies website. You’ll enter your secure and individualized username and password. Once you do that you’ll be taken straight to Part 1 to begin the course.

Eek! What happens if I have a tech issue while trying to log in to the course and watch the videos?

Fear not! If you have any questions, email me at Amy@WHmusictherapy.com or click here. I will typically respond within 24 hours (usually sooner) to help resolve the issue.

How do I obtain CMTE credits?

Complete the Course Evaluation Form and email all completed  Worksheets to me at Amy@WHmusictherapy.com. Once the evaluation form and completed  Worksheets are received, I’ll email your course certificate to you within one week. That certificate verifies that you have successfully completed the course for 8-20 continuing education credits, depending on which package you chose. I also keep a copy of the certificate on hand in the event that you should need it for a CBMT audit.

I have a question that’s not listed here.

No worries at all. Email me and I would be happy to answer any additional questions you have. Send an email to Amy@WHmusictherapy.com or click here.

Are you ready to join? Choose the package that’s the best fit for you, then click ‘I’m In!’ below (and remember – this course is a deductible business expense!) –

Here’s what music therapists and educators are saying about Amy’s other E-Course offerings:

The Autism & Special Needs E-Course (previously on Music Therapy Ed) –

“What an information and idea packed course this has been. I’m particularly grateful for the activity ideas and the final creativity worksheet and action plan…This was exactly the sort of course I crave – facts, research, practical application, video demonstration, activity ideas…perfect!”
– Denise Travis, MM, MT-BC

“Just completed Chapter 1, and am already excited to incorporate several of the songs into my practice. The videos are awesome – it is so helpful to be able to watch you in action, Amy! I am SO loving the course! I hope that you will do more courses in the future! This course has been fantastic! :)”
– Kim Beck, MT-BC

Tune In To Teens – Creative Ideas for Connection & Music Therapy Session Planning –

“It is the only comprehensive resource that I have been able to find online that has specifically helped me in planning my sessions.”
– Ali Howshall • Music Teacher

“This course was one of the most organized and thorough courses that I have taken! The instructor shared valuable information, suggestions, and provided materials and resources that I will definitely use with my clients. I appreciate examples of various music experiences that address the music therapy domains as well as strategies to help with challenging situations that may occur while working with this population.”
– Stacie Proctor, MM, MT-BC • Music Therapist

The Attention & Perception E-Course –

“I think the course is great. I didn’t realize there was so much to dissect about attention and perception, it was very informative. My favorite feature of the course was how organized everything was.”
– Laura Pruett, MT-BC

“The creativity worksheets really helped me work through the course and come up with new ideas. I would recommend the course to others, because it gets the creativity going and inspires you to try new things.”
– Olivia Jones, MT-BC

Refund Policy: If you are not satisfied with this course, you have 15 days from the purchase date to submit a written request for a refund to Amy Buser at: Amy@WHmusictherapy.com. Refund requests must be accompanied by a thorough explanation of why you are unsatisfied along with the completed Worksheets for each part of the course. The course instructor reserves the right to approve or deny refund requests on a case-by-case basis.

The MT Biz 101 E-Course is approved by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT) for 8 – 20 Continuing Music Therapy Education credits. Wholesome Harmonies, LLC, #P-152, maintains responsibility for program quality and adherence to CBMT policies and criteria.