Musicmic, you're right that "being a [certified] music therapist requires getting the official credentials. However, many music therapy programs and activities are done by folks who are not certified. Your experience with the grant is an example. (It's not comparable to practicing medicine without a license.)

I am hired by the Recreation Therapy Director in many nursing homes, for example, and the programs I do "count" as group or one-to-one therapy, for charting purposes, even if the activity consists primarily of a sing-along or of my playing and singing in someone's room. To me, the difference between these activities and what I do when I "entertain" in a senior center or independent living facility is largely in what my goals are. In the former, I focus on stimulating memory and doing things to counter the withdrawal and depression that are so common in institutions. Getting the residents actively involved is key--whether by having them sing, use rhythm instruments, or move to the music. It generally matters very little whether I trip on my tongue, miss a chord, or even sing a flat note. (Sometimes the mistakes enhance the effectiveness of the program.) I seldom do Child Ballads or songs I've written when I'm in the music therapy mode. Stephen Foster, children's songs like "Jesus Loves Me," and early 20th C. popular songs ("Let Me Call You Sweetheart," etc.) are much more likely to evoke tears, laughter, hand-clapping, and singing on the part of 80+-year-old folks with cognitive impairment or depression. (If it's kids, there's always "Little Bunny Foo Foo," and "Doggie In The Window"--as a bark-along song--is a hit with the kids and their great grandparents alike.)

In the latter, I'm mainly trying to present quality music --even if I'm really going to be background music for a dinner --and be entertaining. My audience can be quite discriminating and can be very critical if you do anything that seems amateurish (though I think they do care more about my stage presence and rapport with them than about technical perfection).

I have thought about getting a music therapy certificate, and I may yet (though sometimes I think I've already had more formal education than ought to be legal and it hasn't served me well employment-wise). But some licensed music therapists have told me they don't make any more money than I do without that license. If I could get the license by demonstrating knowledge and proficiency, without having to spend many thousands of dollars and hundreds of class hours, I'd go for it. If you're a lot younger than I (which may include most of you), I might say, "Go for it."