MUSIC THERAPY

What is Music Therapy?

Music therapy is an allied health profession which utilizes music and music-based interventions to help clients achieve emotional, physical, mental health, cognitive, educational, developmental, communication, wellness, and social goals. The curriculum includes a variety of areas including music, applied instruments, psychology, general education, and music therapy-specific courses. Students receive clinical training in a variety of child and adult settings and diagnoses. These include developmental disabilities, special education, mental health, medical, substance abuse, autism, early childhood intervention, and geriatrics. Students complete a minimum of 1200 clinical training hours, which culminates with an internship that can be completed in a variety of settings across the country. After graduation students are eligible for the national board certification exam in music therapy.

What Training does a Music Therapist Need?

Music Therapists must have the credential MT-BC (Music Therapist-Board Certified) to maintain a clinical practice. This credential means that the music therapist completed an approved bachelor's level degree program in music therapy. A major component of the degree is the completion of at least 1200 clinical training hours, including a clinical internship of at least 900 hours at the conclusion of the university coursework. Upon graduation students are eligible to sit for the National Board Certification Exam administered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT) www.cbmt.org.

University curricula in music therapy includes courses in music theory, music history, music therapy, psychology and general studies. In addition, students must be proficient in their primary instrument, guitar, voice, and piano.

The Music Therapy Program at The W

This program combines the excellent education and resources offered by the University and a dedication to the value of a liberal arts education to provide an exciting and challenging training program in music therapy. Students experience an intimate learning environment and a strong emphasis in applied learning.

The 124-credit hour curriculum combines a diverse General Studies core with intensive work in music (including Theory, History, Conducting and Performance), Music Therapy, and Psychology, leading to a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Therapy.

Students in The W's Music Therapy Program receive at least six semesters of supervised clinical practicum with various clients at facilities on campus and throughout the Golden Triangle Area. Students are supervised by a Board-Certified Music Therapist, and engage in music therapy assessment, treatment planning, and documentation along with the actual provision of the music therapy services.

Students begin their music therapy core curriculum, in addition to conducting several observations and volunteer music therapy experiences, as a first-year Freshman or Transfer Student. This allows the students to become immediately involved in their chosen major, and refine many skills needed to become a music therapist.

To prepare students for internship, board certification and the demands of professional music therapy clinical practice, students are required to pass voice, guitar and piano proficiency exams before they may take their senior level music therapy courses and practicum. These exams focus on musical competency skills necessary to music therapy clinical practice with a variety of clients.

Audition and Scholarship Information

All incoming students who wish to major in music are required to perform an audition in front of the Music Faculty. Prospective students must be admitted to the university prior to the audition date. All students who audition will automatically be considered for a music scholarship.

Audition Information

The W Music Therapy Clinical Practicum Sites

Students complete their practicum courses in a variety of settings, some of which have included:

• Child and Parent Development Center, The W, Columbus, MS
• Home Place Nursing and Retirement Center
• Baptist Memorial Hospital - Golden Triangle, Palliative Care and Transitional Unit, Columbus, MS
• Baptist Memorial Hospital - Golden Triangle, Willowbrook Behavioral Health Care, Columbus, MS
• Lowndes County School District, Columbus, MS
• Windsor Place Nursing Home, Columbus, MS
• The Arrington Assisted Living, Columbus, MS
• Vineyard Court Nursing Center, Columbus, MS
• Recovery House, Columbus, MS

Questions about the Music Therapy program at The W?

Program Contact

Carmen E. Osburn, MA, MT-BC
Professor, Director of Music Therapy
ceosburn@muw.edu
(662) 241-7897

Carmen E. Osburn, MA, MT-BC, Professor of Music and Director of Music Therapy at The W received her undergraduate degree in music therapy from Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN and her graduate degree in Creative Arts in Therapy from Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA. Board-certified since 1994, she has provided music therapy services for children and adolescents in school settings and for those with medical, emotional and behavioral problems, as well as drug and alcohol addiction. Her work with adult clients includes geriatric home health services, medical, emotional, psychiatric problems, and drug and alcohol addiction. Before coming to The W in 2005 she was on the faculty at the University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, where she taught music therapy clinical techniques, and supervised students in clinical fieldwork and practica. She also created the first AMTA National Roster Music Therapy Internship in Kentucky at an adult and adolescent psychiatric facility. A frequent presenter at Music Therapy conferences, she represents the Southeastern Region of AMTA (SER-AMTA) on the AMTA Academic Program Approval Committee, and on the AMTA Assembly of Delegates. She serves on the Executive Board of SER-AMTA as 2nd Vice President, editor of the newsletter Quodlibet.