About
The Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy degree provides skilled musicians with opportunities to develop expertise to use music within a therapeutic relationship to meet the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs of individuals as board-certified music therapists.
The program’s students come from throughout the U.S. and serve the region and nation in professional health care and special education settings.
Classes in the Music Therapy program include the Hayes School of Music’s core curriculum: private instrument/voice study, ensemble participation, music theory and aural skills, music history, world music, and other musicianship classes.
Additionally, students in the degree study specific music therapy techniques and theory in order to demonstrate the Professional Competencies established by the American Music Therapy Association. Students learn to address clinical goals for people of all ages and types of challenges through music experiences. These experiences may involve the client’s active participation in creating music such as through singing, playing instruments, songwriting, or improvisation or receptive engagement in music through imaging, listening or moving to music.
The culminating experience for this degree is a required 1,020-hour internship at one of more than 50 affiliated sites across the country, which prepares students for the examination administered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists Inc.
After Graduation
Music Therapy alumni enjoy a nearly 100% placement record in hospitals, public school systems and private practice throughout the region and the United States.
Courses
Minors
Engagement Outside the Classroom
- American Music Therapy Association (student chapter)
- College Music Society (student chapter)
- Music service fraternities: Phi Mu Alpha, Sigma Alpha Iota, Kappa Kappa Psi
Global Learning
Appalachian is committed to introducing students to different cultures and teaching them how to live and interact in a global society.
All Hayes School of Music students take MUS 2018 World Music as a requirement within their degree programs. Additionally, Music students are eligible to participate in international programs, including recent course-related activities in Ireland, South Africa, Cuba and Austria.
Admission Requirements
All students must audition to be accepted into the Hayes School of Music.
Why Appalachian?
- The Hayes School of Music prepares young musicians for professional lives as performers, composers, music educators, music therapists, conductors and music industry professionals, ensuring the next generation of musical leadership for the state, region and nation.
- With employment and graduate school placement record of nearly 100 percent, our students typically move into professional music careers, including performing, teaching, clinical work, research and business, as well as other career fields that value collaboration, logical reasoning and creative thinking.
- The Hayes School of Music engages the local and regional community with more than 190 concerts each year, giving students valuable performance experience.
Location
Boone campus only
Contacts
Dr. Christine P. Leist, MT-BC
Music Therapy Undergraduate Program Director
Room 209, Broyhill Music Center
828-262-6663
leistcp@appstate.edu