Learn skills necessary to practice as a professional music therapist. These include a foundation in music theory, history, composition, arranging, keyboard, guitar, voice, improvisation, and conducting, as well as clinical skills including principles of therapy, exceptionality, and the therapeutic relationship. After course work is completed, students will engage in 1,040 hours of clinical internship at an approved site and will be evaluated on the skills and competencies listed above. This prepares students to sit for the Board Certification Examination to earn the MT-BC (Music Therapist - Board Certified) credential. Students will learn to apply critical problem-solving techniques in developing music therapy interventions for a wide variety of clients and patients.
Competencies as a music therapist involve client assessment, implementation of music therapy strategies, evaluation, documentation, termination, discharge planning, and interdisciplinary team work. Students will become familiar with the professional work environment through a series of practica in which the concepts and strategies learned in the classroom are applied to clinical music therapy work with individuals in community settings, including schools, medical centers, nursing facilities, and other agencies serving people of diverse needs. Students will be prepared to adapt to the needs of a quickly changing health care environment and mental health network, and will learn how to develop a music therapy practice, administer programs, and devise treatment programs in a team approach. |
These courses are intended as guidelines. Speak to your guidance counsellor to see what courses are offered at your school.
As an enrolled Berklee College of Music undergraduate student, you will be required to declare a major field of study by your third semester. To declare this major, you must meet these requirements during your first two semesters at Berklee: GPA over 2.7, enrollment in MTH-201 Introduction to International Music Therapy with a grade of 84 percent on the midterm exam or completion of the course with a final grade of at least 84 percent; demonstrated proficiency on principal instrument, musicality, intonation, expression, and technical skill; consistent ability to sing with pitch accuracy, in an established meter, with musicality; ability to read and demonstrate comprehension of material from a current music therapy textbook; demonstrated ability to communicate ideas clearly, through both speech and written language; expressed desire to become a music therapist, motivation appropriate to profession, ability to state strengths/challenges; common sense and judgment, based on responses to case studies; solid interpersonal skills; and a minimum score of 40 points out of 70 points on Interview/Audition rating. |
| Test Scores: | - International English Language Testing System (academic or immigration) [min. 6.0] or Test of English as a Foreign Language (Internet Based) [min. 72]
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| Application Notes : | If you are applying to the degree program and your first language is not English, you are required to submit a PTE Academic, a TOEFL, or an IELTS score to complete your application for admission. We recommend a PTE Academic score of 48, a TOEFL IBT score of 72 or higher, or a IELTS score of 6 or higher. |
| Additional Admission Requirements: | Berklee’s unique audition and interview process allows us to learn about you as a whole artist while assessing your current level of musicianship and potential to succeed in our dynamic community. It also allows us to consider you for merit-based scholarship awards. The audition and interview, combined with your transcripts and supporting application materials, gives us a picture of who you are and where you have potential to grow.
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* We make every attempt to provide accurate information on prerequisites, programs, and tuition. However, this information is subject to change without notice and we highly recommend that you contact the school to confirm important information before applying.