Music Therapy (Taught)

Course summary

The part-time MA Music Therapy course provides students with a unique opportunity to develop the skills necessary to become a Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) qualified Music Therapist. This highly experiential Music Therapy course provides students with training comprising of theoretical, clinical and musical experiences. Clinical placements are at the heart of the course. Additionally, you will explore group psychodynamic processes and relate them to clinical practice, as well as working alongside trainee Art Psychotherapists to boost your learning experience.

Modules

During the first year of your MA Music Therapy training, you will establish a strong theoretical basis built up from a range of disciplines, with an emphasis on psychodynamic music therapy. Your competence in clinical practice and your understanding of therapeutic relationships will then be developed in years two and three through supervised placements. These will be integrated with your university based learning. Infant observation is an exciting feature of the first year, offering an informative and in depth grounding in human development that will inform for the rest of your study. Creative music skills sessions enable you to further develop musically. In addition, throughout the MA Music Therapy course, multi-disciplinary study groups and events will provide insight into the principles, practices and effectiveness of other art modalities. Year One/Part One •Theory and Practice of Music Therapy •Infant Observation •Clinical Improvisation (Music Skills) •Placement Visits (six weeks x one day per week) •Study of Different Client Groups •Modality Specific Experiential Groups Year Two/Part Two •Placement in a University Approved Clinical Setting (one day per week) •Small Group Clinical Supervision •Further Theory and Practice of Music Therapy •Creative Music Skills •Modality Specific Experiential Groups Year Three/Part Three •Placement in a University Approved Clinical Setting (one day) •Small Group Clinical Supervision •Modality Specific Experiential Group •Research Methods and Dissertation Please note it is a course requirement that you are in regular weekly therapy for the duration of the course.

Assessment method

You will be assessed through a combination of essays, presentations, practicals, coursework, professional development, improvisations, performance, dissertation and viva voce assessment.

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

Health and Care Professions Council

Entry requirements

The demands of the Music Therapy course and the Music Therapy profession, require you to demonstrate a suitable level of life experience and maturity. An undergraduate degree in a relevant field of study, an equivalent professional qualification, or extensive experience in a related field, plus evidence of substantial experience of musical practice, including exposure to and experience of, a variety of styles of music. Applicants must be able to perform on their main instrument or voice, to standard equivalent to Grade 8. An ability to use music symbolically and expressively and to improvise, relate, and communicate through the art form, with individuals and groups. Significant practical experience (voluntary or paid) in a relevant setting, or with clients or service users, to demonstrate that you are able to work with a range of client groups. You will also need an enhanced DBS check. If your first language is not English then we require IELTS grade of 7.0 with a minimum score of 6.5 in each component.