Music Therapy Practicum

Music therapy practicum is a hands-on, supervised learning experience where students apply music therapy skills in real-world settings. The practicum allows students to work with diverse populations using music-based interventions to support emotional, cognitive, physical, or social well-being.

Students observe, plan, and lead sessions under the guidance of a credentialed music therapist, while also receiving feedback and engaging in reflection to develop clinical and interpersonal skills.

Before beginning practicum, music therapy students must demonstrate proficiency in the core instruments (voice, guitar, piano), music theory, aural skills, and music history - as well as advanced classes in psychology. Music therapy students must observe and analyze clinical music therapy sessions, understand key texts, and have a basis for clincial training. Students must also facilitate classroom-based music therapy sessions with populations such as traumatic brain injury, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, autism, ADHD, intellectual disability, elderly, youth with traumatic pasts, incarerated individuals, individuals who struggle with speech impairments, hearing difficulties, physical disabilities.

My music therapy practicum involved 6 elementary school boys with Adhd, autism, learning and attention difficulties. Each week we planned and facilitated sessions with the the goal of increasing social awareness, social connection, and communication. Though each music therapy student is responsible for the entire group, we are assigned an individual client to focus on. The goal for my client was to express 1 emotion per session and to speak wit prompting to one peer. This experience was incredibly rewarding and sweet.

-the photo is an art piece the kids made for me :) their traced hands with initials