MUSIC THERAPY

Chesley Mercado, Chair
Associate Professor: Chesley Mercado
Associate Professor: Douglas Keith
Instructor: Vicky Robinson

Department Contact Information:
Georgia College & State University
College of Health Sciences
Campus Box 67
Milledgeville, GA 31061
478-445-2645
Music Therapy Department Web site
Chair, Dr. Chesley Mercado, chesley.mercado@gcsu.edu
Administrative Assistant, Phillis Brown, phillis.brown@gcsu.edu

MISSION OF DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC THERAPY

The mission of the Music Therapy Department is to provide the interdisciplinary undergraduate and graduate education and clinical training necessary to prepare individuals for successful careers in music therapy, the creative arts therapies in general, and to be leaders in the community. The department seeks to develop music therapists and other creative arts therapists highly skilled in meeting the emotional, mental, and physical health care needs of individuals reflecting societal and cultural diversity and to provide continued education and professional development across the career span.

MISSION OF UNDERGRADUATE MUSIC THERAPY PROGRAM

The mission of the undergraduate Music Therapy Program is to provide the interdisciplinary education & clinical training necessary to prepare individuals for successful careers in music therapy. The program seeks to develop music therapists highly skilled in meeting the emotional, mental, and physical health care needs of individuals reflecting societal and cultural diversity.

ACCREDITATION

The music therapy programs are nationally approved by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA). Georgia College & State University is a member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), the official accrediting organization for schools, divisions, and departments of music in the United States.

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

Music Therapy Society

The Music Therapy Society (MTS) is an organization for any students interested in the profession of music therapy and in service work to the community. MTS is involved in the American Music Therapy Association Students (AMTAS), a professional association that all declared music therapy majors are eligible to join at both the regional and national levels. MTS sponsors service projects, volunteer work, field trips to facilities throughout the state, and other special programs for the benefit of the membership.

CAREER INFORMATION

Music therapists may work in a variety of settings - in private practice or on staff at hospitals, hospices, schools, or other facilities. While salaries vary according to location, employment opportunities are increasing nationwide, particularly in preventative, innovative, & gerontological services. Music therapy, among other allied health care professions, has been identified in Field’s 100 Best Careers as a promising career. Health care employment opportunities in areas such as music therapy are predicted to continue to grow.

MUSIC THERAPY ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

Admission into Music Therapy

In addition to meeting the general admission requirements of Georgia College & State University, applicants for the Bachelor of Music Therapy degree program must also successfully pass an entrance audition and interview at the Freshman level. The purpose of this audition/interview is to demonstrate the student’s level of preparation upon entering Georgia College & State University and to acquaint the music therapy faculty with the student’s potential. The requirements of the entrance audition/interview are as follows: For piano auditions, students are expected to perform two compositions of contrasting style. At least one of the selections should be performed by memory. For instrumental auditions other than piano, students are expected to perform two solo compositions of contrasting styles or two movements of a contrasting style from a sonata. For vocal auditions, students are expected to perform two songs, at least one of which is from the standard classical vocal repertoire. Both songs should be performed from memory. For both vocal and instrumental auditions, students must provide their own accompanist. Students will also sight read a piece of music appropriate for the audition. Acceptance into Music Therapy at the freshman level does not guarantee acceptance as a candidate for the Bachelor of Music Therapy.

Admission to the Music Therapy Program is highly competitive and may be limited based on availability of qualified faculty and maintaining student to faculty ratios required by accreditation standards. All students who apply to the major may not be admitted.

Many agencies where clinical and practical experiences take place require students to undergo a criminal background check, urine drug screens, and to meet the CDC standards for immunizations for health care professionals. Students desiring to enter the Music Therapy major should consider these requirements. Agencies may refuse any student based on inability to meet these guidelines or other agency guidelines. Refusal of an agency to accept a student may delay or prevent a student from completing a program. Certification agencies may also refuse to license individuals who have committed certain criminal acts or other acts of moral turpitude.

Admission as a Candidate for the Bachelor of Music Therapy Degree

At the conclusion of their sophomore year, music therapy majors must successfully pass a formal interview/audition for official acceptance as a candidate for the Bachelor of Music Therapy Degree. This is known as the Junior Audition. As part of the interview, each student will be asked to discuss music therapy, its definition, and their expectations for a career in music therapy. As part of the audition, students should be prepared to perform one piece on their principal instrument and to accompany themselves on guitar and piano with ten songs each. Preparation for the Junior Audition is provided in MUST 2510, MUST 2520, MUST 2300,and MUST 2400. In order to be eligible to take the candidacy interview/Junior Audition, each student must have successfully completed their Freshman/Sophomore music and music therapy courses, their guitar proficiency test, have a minimum of 28 service learning (pre-practicum) clinical hours,and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5. Once accepted as a candidate for the Bachelor of Music Therapy Degree, BMT candidates must maintain this minimum GPA of 2.5. The piano proficiency must be successfully completed before the student is eligible to take MUST 4990. In addition, BMT candidates must attain a minimum grade of C in all courses with the MUST prefix and MUSC prefix, as required by the AMTA. Students may repeat one music therapy course, but may repeat it only once and may not repeat another music therapy course. Since music therapy courses are sequential, building upon knowledge gained in a previous course, satisfactory completion (C) of one course is prerequisite to progressing to the following course.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Each music therapy major is expected to specialize in one instrument or voice during the course of their study (minimum of 1 credit hour per semester for 7 consecutive semesters). Students enrolled in applied study must audition with the Departments of Music before their first semester's work in order to ascertain appropriate placement within the applied study syllabus. Music therapy majors must also participate in at least one performing ensemble during seven consecutive semesters at GCSU (minimum of 1 credit hour per semester) except during internship. Students must maintain a minimum grade of “C” in applied study.

Computer Proficiency Requirements

Music therapy majors must demonstrate computer proficiency. Preparation for this requirement is provided in MUST 0001 Freshman Academic Seminar.

Music Proficiency Requirements

Successful completion of the Guitar Proficiency Exam and the Piano Proficiency Exam is a requirement of all music therapy majors. Guitar proficiency is a prerequisite for acceptance as a candidate for the Bachelor of Music Therapy Degree and Piano proficiency is a prerequisite for MUST 4990. Preparation for the Piano Proficiency Exam is provided in MUSC 1210, MUSC 1220, and MUST 2400. Preparation for the Guitar Proficiency Exam is provided in MUST 2250.

Professional Service Requirements

During their sophomore year, music therapy majors are required to complete 15 hours per semester of service learning (pre-practicum clinical) experiences. Students must have accumulated a minimum of 28 pre-practicum clinical hours before being eligible for the Junior Audition and acceptance as a candidate for the Bachelor of Music Therapy Degree. MUST 2510 and MUST 2520 are offered to supervise these hours. Juniors are required to complete 30 hours of major practicum clinical hours and 15 hours of minor clinical hours. Seniors are required to complete 20 hours of service learning (Advanced Practicum). MUST 4030 (Advanced Practicum) is offered to supervise these hours. Additional information regarding approved activities may be obtained from the student's adviser. Students must complete a minimum of 180 hours of pre-internship clinical hours (practicum and service learning (pre-practicum) before being eligible for Internship, MUST 4990.

Recital Attendance Requirements

Music therapy majors are required to enroll in MUSC 1990 each semester of their freshman and sophomore years (4 semesters).

Transportation Requirements

Clinical training in music therapy is provided, in part, at selected community facilities within a 30-mile radius of Milledgeville. Students are expected to provide their own transportation to these facilities.

The program of Music Therapy, College of Health Sciences works collaboratively with the Department of Music,College of Arts & Sciences to prepare students for the music therapy degree.

DEGREE AND MINOR OFFERED