This course has as its core the development of improvisational skills in music through vocal and instrumental experiences. The underlying philosophy is that all human beings are musical and capable of improvising with or without formal music training. This interactive workshop engages participants through developing and strengthening an understanding of the role that music plays in life and communities. Students are graded on their participation and are required to attend and actively participate in the campus workshop.

An overview of the physiological, neurological, psychological, developmental and social foundations of music. Students develop an understanding of auditory processing and music perception, music cognition, developmental foundations of music perception and learning, and disorders specifically related to music perception and processing. Research in the Psychology of Music will be surveyed and evaluated. (Co-requisite: PSY 101)

An extended, intensive, clinical field training experience featuring one or more client population(s) and/or setting(s). Students continue to work under both on-site and academic supervision, and continue to participate in the weekly clinical training forum. Students document the internship through various reports and summaries, and continue to record their personal experiences in self-inquiry logs. Each student must complete a minimum of two semesters of internship (approximately six months in total, combined duration), at 2 credits each (4 credits total), and must accrue a minimum total of 1000 clinical training hours combined over all semesters elected). By special arrangement and with the permission of the department, internship may be completed on a part-time basis over three semesters (approximately one year in total, combined duration), at 2 credits each (6 credits total). (Senior Students only)

Individual reading, research, and presentation of a topic or development of a special project on an independent basis, under the direction of music therapy faculty. (Offered upon request.)

Students prepare for professional life by developing a music therapy presentation, a resume, and practicing interview strategies. Students gain an understanding of the philosophical and theoretical underpinnings of music therapy clinical practice and integrate music therapy theories and practices through an examination of the clinical, theoretical, and research literature. This knowledge is applied by articulating and formally presenting their clinical orientation as it pertains to a particular population in a specific setting. Philosophies of therapy, human development, music and health are explored and connected to clinical practice with an emphasis on research. (Prerequisites MTR 203, MTR 300)

An in-depth orientation to using songs in music therapy clinical practice. Students develop a theoretical, methodological and practical understanding of song writing, along with various forms of lyric substitution. (Prerequisite: MTR 200) Elective course offered as needed.

Students survey the popular music literature and develop song repertoire in various genres, specifically focusing on children’s music, spirituals, classic rock, folk, and popular music from the 1980s onwards. Sociocultural and developmental factors are discussed. (Prerequisite: MTR 200) Elective course offered as needed

Students develop an understanding of research in music therapy, including the various methods that characterize qualitative and quantitative approaches to research. Students gain skills in research literature search tools, methods, and APA style, and in so doing, develop an understanding of reading, analyzing, and writing research. Students apply theoretical concepts by conducting practical experiments on their peers in both quantitative and mixed methods approaches, and prepare posters illustrating the results of their research. (Prerequisite: MTR 345)