Music Therapy Major

DHC
Tue, 27 Feb 2018 16:09:06 +0000

@redbug119 : My son has an audition this weekend for the last school on his Music Therapy list (he applied to 6 schools, 5 of which require auditions. The other one requires an audition Sophomore year instead). One of the best things your friend’s daughter can do it find a music therapist in her area, make contact, and ask to shadow a therapist. Hopefully for a full day or at least for a few sessions.That is really the absolute best way to see what a trained and certified music therapist does.

My son volunteered and played music in a hospital, at art shows, etc… none of that is music therapy. Think of a music therapist more as someone like a physical therapist, or an occupational therapist, but instead of working directly with muscles they try to work the mind and the body with music as a therapeutic tool and with measurable goals. Classwork (depending on which school) involves anatomy, psychology, therapeutic methodologies, etc. My son shadowed a therapist working with oral-deaf children, high social anxiety children, children with autism, etc. Some was one on one, some was in groups.

After your friend’s daughter understands what it really is all about, then she can then research colleges. Some schools are much more music based, some are much more therapy based. And the five auditions have all had slightly different requirements. Some schools you have to pass the music audition before you can do the therapy interview, some are all incorporated as a whole. Music therapy uses voice, guitar, piano and percussion. I strongly suggest that if she does audition, to make sure she has a basic proficiency on piano assuming it is not her primary instrument.