Music Therapy (B.S.M.T.)

Program: B.S.M.T.
Department of Music
College of Visual and Performing Arts

Rhinehart Music Center 144 ~ 260-481-6714 ~ www.ipfw.edu/vpa

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The student learning outcomes for the degree are as follows:

Performance. Music majors will demonstrate the ability to perform competently in public on a principal instrument or voice as a soloist and as a member of a major ensemble.

Music Theory. Students will demonstrate:

• knowledge of musical form, structures, concepts, and terms
• skill and fluency in application through analysis
• ability to compose within basic musical structures
• perspective regarding historical styles and structures
• ability to relate the cognitive to aural perception and to aesthetic response

Aural Perception. Students will demonstrate the ability to:

• read and sing melodic lines with accurate intonation
• read and perform complex rhythms accurately
• recognize and notate melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic patterns and progressions

Music History and Literature. Students will demonstrate knowledge of:

• the principal composers,genres, styles, and performance practices of Western art music
• representative compositions of western art music, recognized aurally and from score
• non-western music and its cultural contexts and influences
• social, political and aesthetic influences and impact on music
• the influence of music on its social, political and aesthetic contexts.

Keyboard.  All music majors will be able to use the keyboard as a basic tool and will demonstrate the ability to:

• perform appropriate technical skills such as scales, arpeggios, etc.
• play chord progression from Roman numerals
• improvise
• play “by ear” and from lead sheets
• harmonize melodic lines
• perform repertoire at the intermediate level
• transpose simple pieces and lead sheets
• sight read at the late elementary level
• play from 4-part open score

Technology. Students will demonstrate a basic overview of how technology serves the field of music as a whole including the following:

• knowledge of computer hardware
• ability to use notational software
• ability to use the Internet as a resource for research

Conducting. Students will demonstrate conducting knowledge and skills sufficient to run an effective rehearsal and performance, including the following:

• standard beat patterns and meters
• common articulations
• cues and cutoffs
• varying dynamics
• setting, maintaining, and altering tempi
• score preparation

Music Foundations. Students will demonstrate general musicianship, as well as specific music knowledge and skills, sufficient to appropriately and effectively apply a wide variety of music interventions within the clinical setting including the following:

• recognition of standard works from various periods and cultures, and identification of their elemental, structural land stylistic characteristics
• sight-singing transposing and aural dictation of melodies, rhythms and chord progressions
• composing songs and simple instrumental pieces in a variety of styles with simple accompaniments
• adapting, arranging, transposing, and simplifying compositions for vocal and non-symphonic instrumental ensembles
• performing appropriate undergraduate repertoire, and demonstrating musicianship, technical proficiency, and interpretive understanding on a principle instrument/voice
• functional keyboard skills including accompanying, sight-reading and transposition skills for a basic repertoire of traditional, folk and popular songs and musical styles
• functional guitar skills including accompanying, sight-reading and transpositions skills for a basic repertoire of traditional, folk, and popular songs and musical styles
• functional vocal skills for singing a basic repertoire of traditional, folk and popular songs and musical styles and for vocally leading group singing
• utilizing a variety of non-symphonic and ethnic instruments and percussion for accompanying and leading group singing and playing
• improvise on non-symphonic and ethnic instruments and percussion in a wide variety of styles and moods for accompaniment and group playing
• conducting small and large vocal and instrumental ensembles

Clinical Foundations. Students will demonstrate an understanding of and ability to integrate philosophies, orientations, theories and techniques of traditional therapies into clinical music therapy practice, including the following:

• understanding of the general populations and specific disability and diagnostic groups to which music therapy clients typically belong, including:
  • causes and symptoms of major exceptionalities
  • basic terminology and diagnostic classifications
  • potentials, limitations and problems of exceptional individuals
• understanding of human development throughout the life span, including major theories of development
• basic knowledge of the major schools of thought and their accepted methods of therapeutic interventions
• demonstrate an understanding of basic group process within therapeutic environments
• utilize the dynamics of group process to address therapeutic goals
• develop a depth of self-awareness that allows for the establishment of ethically appropriate and effective therapeutic relationships

Music Therapy. Students will demonstrate an understanding of, and ability to integrate and practice music therapy-specific concepts and skills in preparation for effective provision of clinical music therapy services to clients in a manner which adheres to professional standards of clinical practice and to ethical code, including the following:

• basic knowledge of music therapy methods, techniques, materials and equipment and their appropriate applications, as appropriate to a variety of client populations and settings
• application of the philosophical, psychological, physiological and sociological bases for the use of music as therapy
• application of the principles and methods for evaluating the effectiveness of music therapy
• communication of a basic understanding of the concepts, processes, methods and techniques, cultural implications, and analyses and interpretations of music therapy assessment
• a basic understanding of the process of formulating and focusing music therapy treatment plans in response to the strengths, weakness, needs, and socio-cultural contexts of individuals and groups
• ability to apply music therapy treatment in response to the strengths, weakness, needs, and socio-cultural contexts of individuals and groups
• ability to creatively utilize a wide variety of musical intervention, including use of voice, solo, and accompaniment instruments, pitched and non-pitched percussive instruments, pre-composed music, and recorded music, in order to effectively address clients’ treatment objectives
• creativity and flexibility in responding to client needs as they are presented within the music therapy session
• effective use of therapeutic self within the music therapy session in order to shape client behavior and increase client communication
• effectively communicate, verbally and in writing, all aspects of the clinical process, including, assessment, planning, implementation, outcomes, and evaluation
• attitudes and behaviors that reflect the standards and ethical codes required of the music therapy professional basic knowledge of quantitative, qualitative and historical research in music therapy,l and its implications for and applications to music therapy clinical practice.

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Music therapists use music and music activities to promote health and rehabilitation for individuals of all ages with disabilities in a variety of agencies such as hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centers, and private practice settings. Students must satisfactorily complete a six-month internship at the conclusion of the required course work. Graduates of the B.S.M.T. program are eligible to sit for the national certification exam sponsored by the Certification Board for Music Therapists. Music therapy majors must work closely with an advisor to select general education courses that meet national certification requirements. Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy (B.S.M.T.) candidates have some specific general education courses in some categories.

Gerontology

For information about earning an undergraduate certificate in gerontology concurrently with the B.S.M.T., consult the gerontology program entry in this section of this Bulletin. Additional information is published in the Department of Music Student Handbook.