Music Therapy

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Music Therapy is a rapidly expanding field that provides opportunities for a creative and rewarding career.  Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.

Music therapy interventions can be designed to:

• Manage Stress
• Alleviate Pain
• Express Feelings
• Enhance Memory
• Process Trauma
• Improve Communication
• Promote Physical Rehabilitation

Research in music therapy supports its effectiveness in a wide variety of healthcare and educational settings (American Music Therapy Association, 2012).

The Music Therapy program encourages students to pursue their own music interests. The curriculum also is well supported by coursework in applied and theoretical music skills, as well as by studies in psychology, anatomy, special education and the humanities. Students participate in supervised clinical experiences throughout the greater St. Louis area. Students have the opportunity to  observe and work directly with varied clinical populations under the guidance of faculty and board-certified music therapists.

Health and Other Special Requirement

The following requirements must be met prior to participating in required clinicals:

• Physical Examination
• Documentation of Immunization or Titer Immunity
  • Measles/Rubeola, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
  • Tetanus, Diphtheria and acellular Pertusis (Tdap)
  • Polio series completed
  • Varicella titer or Varicella vaccinations
  • Hepatitis B Vaccine Series or Declination
  • Annual Flu Vaccine
  • TB-Tuberculin PPD test (documented 2-step initially, then annual)
• Health insurance (copy of card required annually)
• Urine Drug Screen (from the Maryville authorized lab)
• Criminal Record Background checks from Maryville University’s authorized agency and signed release to clinical sites (possible checks include: state criminal checks, disqualification lists, sex offender lists, social security number, address and alias)
• Fitting for a respiratory isolation device (i.e. N95 Mask) may be required by some clinical sites
• A few hospitals in Missouri now require nicotine screenings for all new employees.  Therefore it is anticipated that students may be excluded from some clinical sites based upon their use of nicotine

Return to: Myrtle E. and Earl E. Walker College of Health Professions