Using music to heal

Beginning at GCSU in the 1970s, the Department of Music Therapy has taught students since its establishment the art of music therapy and how to use it to help those around them.

“Music therapy is a health care profession that uses the unique qualities of music and the training of a board-certified music therapist to meet the therapeutic needs of children and adults. Music therapy is in the College of Health Sciences because after graduation music therapists work with other health care professionals such as nursing, physical therapists and recreation therapists,” Chair of the Department of Music Therapy Chesley Mercado said.

In order to be a music therapy major, students should be able to read music and have determined a principle instrument when they enter the program at GCSU. They are required to go through an audition process where they must perform in front of members of the Department of Music. Currently in the Department of Music Therapy, there are 53 undergraduate students and 19 graduate students who take classes and qualify as music therapy majors.

“(Music therapy) students are not required to give a recital, but they do perform at Recital Class and take applied music lesson. Music therapy is not performing, but students must be able to play songs from a variety of eras to meet the needs of the people served,” Mercado said.

Music therapy majors are required to complete 1200 hours of clinical training, where they go to various clinical placements such as hospitals and schools, taking what they learned in the classroom and applying it to real life situations. They must also participate in a six month internship after they have completed a minimum of 180 clinical hours.

“I love (music therapy) because I feel like I am being able to jump into the major and get to put myself in situations that I will be working in really soon, instead of just sitting in a classroom learning. I enjoy knowing that by the time I graduate I will be able to help people with something that I love to do and make a difference in someone’s life through the music that I play,” freshman Crystal Pratt said.

This year, the Department of Music Therapy has submitted a proposal to begin a Master of Arts in art therapy to tentatively begin in Fall 2012. Also, the music therapy minor was replaced with a minor in creative arts therapies with a focus in music therapy or movement arts therapy.

With special equipment such as the Somatron, a chair that vibrates to music for relaxation, sensory integration equipment and an observation room for the music therapy clinic located in the health sciences building, music therapy students are able to learn through a hands-on approach by using the equipment.

“I chose music therapy because I realized how effective it was. This is a major that covers every single population. Music therapy is effective because it positively benefits both the therapist and his or her client(s),” sophomore Erica Buchhammer said. “I wanted a career where I could use music to help all people and bring a higher quality of life. Music therapy is just what I was looking for.”

Posted by Lauren Corcino on Oct 8 2010. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.