Undergraduate Degrees for Music Therapy

saxophonist

The Shenandoah Music Therapy Program is approved by the American Music Therapy Association, Inc. The Shenandoah Conservatory, in which the Music Therapy Program is offered, is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. Students who complete either the BMT or the Certificate are eligible to sit for the national examination in music therapy administered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT). Students enrolled in MMT courses may simultaneously fulfill continuing education requirements established by the CBMT.

The Bachelor of Music Therapy degree at Shenandoah is designed to be completed in seven semesters of academic coursework plus the six-month, full-time music therapy internship. In other words, successful progress through the curriculum may result in the student beginning the internship as early as January of their senior year, to be completed the following July. Students may complete the internship at Shenandoah University or make application in consideration of other sites across the United States. Students maintain full-time student status during the period of internship, including financial aid, health insurance and housing (if applicable). In addition to general education requirements, including studies in sociology or anthropology, religion or philosophy, mathematics, English and dance, students in the BMT program engage in study across three areas: music foundations, clinical

Music Foundations: Music therapists must know first hand of the depth to which music is a creative process. To accomplish this, the curriculum includes more than 60 credits in music courses. Music studies include major applied study in the instrument or voice for which they auditioned, as well as minor applied study in a secondary area (instrument or voice). Saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano, guitar, bass or percussion students may elect to complete their applied music and ensemble requirements by following the Jazz Emphasis in lieu of the more traditional classical study. Additional music courses include tonal and 20th century harmony, aural skills, sight singing, music literature and history, keyboard harmony, conducting, instrumentation, arranging and seven semesters in large and small ensembles. Music Therapy students with a high interest and ability in performing may choose to earn the Shenandoah Conservatory Performance Certificate. Students are required to complete applied levels beyond the minimum required for the Music Therapy curriculum as well as to complete recital requirements. The Performance Certificate formally acknowledges advanced study in performance and may be useful if considering graduate performance study or employment as a performer/applied teacher in the future.

Clinical Foundations: Students are required to demonstrate clinical knowledge across diverse populations in both classroom and field placement settings. Students complete at least 18 credits in the study of normal human development, exceptionality, psychopathology, principles of therapy and the therapeutic relationship. The most common minor among music therapy students is in psychology. This minor is particularly useful if the student anticipates working in mental health or may wish to later pursue graduate studies in psychology.

Music Therapy Foundations: Students progress through a curriculum that is competency based. For example, musicianship in music therapy settings, including piano, guitar, percussion and voice, as well as leadership skills, are taught early in the students' course of study for later use in field placements. Basic competency in therapeutic skills, management of space and use of group dynamics must first be demonstrated in the classroom and with population groups that are less difficult before proceeding to more challenging situations. Education and training in the actual delivery of music therapy services occurs in three stages. First, observation/participation opportunities are provided across the students' first three semesters paired with the study of music therapy foundations, the music of music therapy, leadership skills and standards of practice. Second, supervised weekly field placements take place across the next four semesters in agencies throughout the community for population groups associated with gerontology, developmental disabilities, mental health and medicine/physical rehabilitation. Finally, the students' internship begins at the start of the eighth semester, representing the delivery of full-time supervised music therapy services over a six-month period with a population group of the student's choice.