BM Music Therapy at University of Louisville
Students must be strong musicians and find satisfaction in using music to help with non-music areas and skills, rather than as a goal in itself. The music therapy program requires good intellectual skills as music therapists are required to use analytical skills in determining clinical goals and writing skills in documentation.
Students’ music skills will expand during their music therapy course work from performing on their principal instrument to also including functional piano, guitar, and voice skills, using other accompanying instruments such as the Q-chord and autoharp, and developing skill in using percussion instruments. Music therapy majors may work with any age group and with people with a variety of disabilities. As a member of a therapeutic team or private practitioner, the music therapist participates in the analysis of individual problems and the establishment of treatment goals before planning and carrying out music-related treatment. Music therapists may also do administration in various health-related settings and, with advanced degrees, may become university faculty.