Music Therapy (B.M.)
Healing Through Music
Seton Hill University's Music Therapy (B.M.) Program will prepare you to engage clients in the healing process, using your own unique musical capabilities. At Seton Hill, you will learn to:
- assess a client's emotional well-being, physical health, social functioning, communication abilities and cognitive skills through musical responses, and
- develop a treatment plan to address client's needs.
Seton Hill's Music Therapy Program is accredited by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) and the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).
Why the Music Therapy Program at Seton Hill University?
As a student in Seton Hill's Music Therapy Program, you will have opportunities to work in real-world settings and situations as you gain the experience needed to become a competent music therapist. At Seton Hill, you will
- hone your musical skills through a Bachelor of Music Program that provides a deeper focus on the development of the musician clinician than a B.S. or B.A. in music therapy.
- build a repertoire of therapy strategies that includes novel approaches - like the use of a modified approach to Dalcroze Eurhythmics to improve quality of life for Parkinson's patients and their caregivers.
- participate in the care of clients through interdisciplinary treatment planning, ongoing evaluation and follow-up under the supervision of a board-certified music therapist.
- be eligible to sit for the national examination offered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists upon receiving your undergraduate degree.
- enjoy small classes and personal instruction by expert faculty.
- form bonds with other music therapy majors through volunteerism, public performances, conferences, fundraising and advocacy events through participation in the Music Therapy Club.
- learn in state-of-the-art facilities, including our Arts Center and Performing Arts Center.
- experience the benefits of our Apple Distinguished School, including a MacBook Air laptop for all full-time undergraduates.
Throughout this program, you will learn to design and facilitate music therapy sessions for individuals and groups using
- improvisation (piano, percussion, vocal)
- songwriting
- lyric analysis
- receptive music listening & relaxation
- structural movement (rhythmics)
- adaptive music learning and more!
Seton Hill Faculty Are Practicing Music Therapists
Practical Experience
Clinical Practicum
Through Seton Hill's Music Therapy Program, you will observe and participate in music therapy experiences at various practicum sites. The majority of the time you will be working with either the music therapist on staff or Seton Hill Music Therapy Program faculty. In the rare cases where a board-certified music therapist is not available, you will work with a health professional in a comparable field. Practicum sites include:
- Special care nursery, similar to a NICU (infants)
- Child Development Center (preschoolers)
- Caritas Christi (older adults; memory care)
- St. Anne Home (older adults; memory care)
- Heritage Hospice (all ages)
- Adelphoi (at-risk children & adolescents)
- Torrance State Hospital (adults; civil & forensic mental health)
- Highlands Hospital (adolescents & adults; behavioral health)
- Highlands Hospital Regional Center for Autism, partnership with Cleveland Clinic (children & adolescents)
- Community Living Care (adults; developmental disabilities)
- Experiencing Music Group (children & adolescents; autism; development disabilities)
- Westmoreland County Youth Shelter (adolescents; behavioral health)
- Clairview Intermediate Unit (children & adolescents; developmental disabilities, autism, physical disabilities, multiple diagnoses)
Internship
Every Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy Program requires a 6-month internship. While this can add to the time it takes to earn the undergraduate degree, students who complete their B.M. in Music Therapy and internship are eligible to become board-certified and practice without the requirement of a master's degree. While Seton Hill music therapy students are encouraged to acquire an internship with an AMTA-approved site, local affiliated internships are available.
Ensembles
Seton Hill University's Music Program offers a full range of large and specialized ensembles, in which all music majors are involved. Most ensembles are also open to non-music majors.
Careers
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, therapy jobs are expected to continue increasing steadily, with an annual salary between $30,000 and $80,000. To obtain the music therapist-board certified credential (MT - BC), you must complete Seton Hill's Music Therapy Program (including internship) and pass the national examination offered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists. Seton Hill's Music Therapy program has a 100% board certification pass rate, and a 100% career/graduate school placement rate.
Seton Hill's award-winning Career and Professional Development Center (CPDC) will work with you, your professors and local, regional and national employers to prepare you with the career preparation skills, internship opportunities and placement services that you need - as a student and after you graduate.
Audition
In addition to the University's requirements for admission, all music majors must successfully audition for Seton Hill's music faculty to be admitted into the Music Program.
Admissions & Aid
At Seton Hill University, we offer streamlined admissions requirements and a comprehensive aid program.
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Faculty
David Anderson
Instructor of Music Theory, Staff Accompanist
Mark A. Boyle
Director of Choral and Vocal Activities, Associate Professor of Music, Voice
Ted DiSanti
Coordinator of Commercial Music, Associate Professor of Music, Trumpet
Laurie Fox
Coordinator of Music Therapy, Associate Professor of Music Therapy
Edward M. Kuhn, Jr.
Music Department Chair, Associate Professor of Music, Piano
Christopher M. Marra
Director of Instrumental Activities, Assistant Professor of Music, Euphonium
Sarah McMeekin
Assistant Professor of Music, Music Therapy
Jessica Vaughan-Marra
Coordinator of Music Education, Assistant Professor of Music, Oboe