FACULTY OF MUSIC

The Department

Dean: Charles Morrison
Graduate Officer: Colin Lee

Faculty/Research Interests

Full-time Faculty
Ahonen-Eerikäinen, Heidi, MA (Helsinki, Finland), EdD (Joensuu, Finland). Music therapist, psychotherapist, group analyst; music psychotherapy, group-analytic music therapy, music listening and imagination methods; integrated art- and music-therapy methods; referential and non-referential improvisation; supervision, qualitative research,  traumatized adults, addictions, psychosomatic issues, burn-out, autism.
Arnason, Carolyn, AMM, BMus (Manitoba), BMusTh (Laurier), MTA, MSW (Laurier), DA in Music Therapy (New York). Interpretive analysis of clinical improvisation, music-centred psychotherapy, music therapy supervision, qualitative clinical research.
Lee, Colin A., BA Hons (Colchester, England), Postgraduate Diploma in Music Therapy (London, England), RMTh, PhD (London, England). Clinical improvisation, qualitative research, models of improvisational analysis, aesthetic music therapy, palliative care, HIV and AIDS, bereavement, autism.

Cognate Faculty
Fischer, Rosemary, BMus (Oberlin), MMus (Michigan), EdD (Georgia), RMT-BC-MTA; Professor Emerita, Faculty of Music; music therapy
Hatch, Peter, BMus, MMus (Toronto), DMA (UBC); Professor, Faculty of Music; composition.
Knox, Roger, BMus (UBC), MMus (Indiana), PhD (Eastman); Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Music; Research Associate, Bloorview Macmillan Health Centre; music technology.
Morrison, Charles, BMus (Manitoba), MA, PhD (UBC); Professor, Faculty of Music; aesthetics and music theory.
Overduin, Jan, BA, MMus (Western), MA (Waterloo), FRCCO, FTCL, ARCT, AAGO; Professor, Faculty of Music; improvisation.

Cognate Faculty in Social Work
Basso, Robert, BA (Florida State), MDiv, MSW (WLU), PhD (Toronto)
Coady, Nick, BA (York), MSW (WLU), PhD (Toronto)
Fusco, Luke, BA (Hofstra), MA (Chicago)
Stalker, Carol, BA (Western), MSW (WLU), PhD (Smith Col.)

The Program
The Master of Music Therapy curriculum is designed to give opportunities for advanced clinical education and the learning of contemporary clinical theories which will lead to the development of music therapy knowledge, skills and attitudes.
    The program helps students gain an understanding of the major clinical theories and philosophies of practice and of current Canadian and international music therapy trends; the program also illuminates and emphasizes the balance between music and therapy.
    Specifically, the Master of Music Therapy program aims to develop students’ knowledge and skills in the following areas:

Music Therapy Clinics
The music therapy program at Laurier has three on-site clinics.  These facilities accommodate individual and group sessions. Audio, video and editing facilities enable students to conduct in-depth assessments and to prepare professional case-study material.

Professional Affiliations
The Music Therapy program maintains an active involvement with the Canadian Association for Music Therapy (CAMT). The CAMT is a federally incorporated, self-regulated, non-profit professional association dedicated to the fostering of music therapy in clinical, educational and community settings throughout Canada. Many music therapy students become members and practice at both the local and national levels. It is expected that most students will join the CAMT and complete their internship upon graduation.

Admission Requirements

One-Year Program

  1. A completed four-year honours undergraduate degree in music therapy, with a minimum of a B (73-76 percent) standing in the final academic year.
  2. Evidence of advanced clinical experience.
  3. Piano performance abilities at a minimum Grade 6 Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) level.
  4. Evidence of advanced musical qualifications, including ability to perform (at a minimum Grade 10 RCM level) and improvise on their primary instrument.
  5. Successful completion of the following psychology courses: Introduction, Developmental, Abnormal Psychology.
Two-Year Program
  1. A completed four-year honours undergraduate degree in an allied area (e.g., music, psychology), with at least a B (73-76 percent) standing in the final academic year.
  2. Evidence of relevant paid and/or voluntary experience in human service organizations.
  3. Students who do not hold a degree in music must take music theory and history tests (equivalent in level to a second-year honours undergraduate music course).
  4. Piano performance abilities at a minimum Grade 6 RCM level.
  5. Evidence of advanced musical qualifications, including ability to perform (at a minimum Grade 10 RCM level) and improvise on their primary instrument.
  6. Successful completion of the following psychology courses: Introduction, Developmental, Abnormal Psychology.
Students considered for admission on the basis of the initial application package will be  contacted by February 20 to establish a date and time for an on-campus visit, which will include the following: Course Schedule

Two-Year Program (full-time)
Year 1
Fall term Winter term Spring term
MU501
MU502
MU503
SK522		 MU504 Practicum I
MU505 
MU506
MU507		 MU508 Practicum II
Year 2
Fall term Winter term Spring term
MU601
MU603 Practicum III
MU606
MU607
SK621		 MU602
MU604 Practium IV
MU605		 MU608
MU609

One-Year Program (full-time)
Fall term Winter term Spring term
MU601
MU603 Practicum III
MU606
MU607
SK621		 MU602
MU604 Practium IV
MU605		 MU608
MU609

The Practicum
The Master of Music Therapy requires one practicum in year one for students in the two-year program and one continuous one-day-per-week practicum for students in their final year.  In year one, practicum will take place at the on-site clinic at Laurier and in the community.  In the final year of the two-year program (and in the one-year program), students will be assigned to a facility off-campus.  All practicum experiences will be supervised by a qualified and experienced music therapist.  To complete practica, students will be required to write and present a case study based on their clinical experience.

Requirements for Continuing in the Program
In addition to successfully completing the academic courses, students must be judged to be capable of assuming the professional and clinical responsibilities of the practicum.  Any students not meeting these requirements may be required by the dean of Music to withdraw from the program.

Graduate Courses

MU501    0.5
The Field of Music Therapy
The study of the discipline of music therapy through the investigation of special populations, treatment models and clinical orientations.  Music therapy approaches are explored through practical demonstration, lectures by guest national and international music therapists and case studies.

MU502    0.5
Musical Resources I
Students practise and experience musical resources needed for clinical improvisation and song-writing.  Through the identification of musical components and their therapeutic use with clients, students explore and demonstrate how to use music clinically.
MU503    0.5
Music Therapy Methods
Students explore models of assessment, indexing and the formulation of clinical aims and objectives.  Students observe and evaluate ongoing music therapy sessions by experienced music therapists.  Clinical de-briefing gives students the opportunity to dialogue about clinical interventions and the therapeutic process.
MU504    0.5
Practicum I
In this practicum students lead and co-lead group and individual sessions.  Weekly supervision is provided by a qualified and experienced music therapist (12 weeks).
MU505    0.5
Emerging Concepts
Through the in-depth study of music therapy theories and case studies, students articulate connections between clinical practice and theory.  Students critically discuss and analyse classical and recent music therapy literature.  The emergency of theory is linked to students’ developing clinical work in Practicum I.
MU506    0.5
Musical Resources II
Students study specific components and qualities of musical idioms, scales and modes.  The influences of world music on clinical improvisation are explored.  Clinical and musical issues from students’ practica are critically analysed.
MU507    0.5
Experiential Music Therapy
The experiential music therapy group offers students the opportunity to experience music therapy as a client.  Group members write a weekly log in order to analyse and reflect on the musical therapeutic process.
MU508    0.5
Practicum II
A continuation of MU504, Practicum I.
MU601    0.5
Musical Resources III
Students’ knowledge of the creative clinical applications of music is expanded.  Advanced musical idioms and compositional styles are addressed.  Linking this course directly to Practicum II, students bring to class clinical issues for group discussion and practice.  Students pursue one musical area of interest and formulate an idiom for clinical practice.
MU602    0.5
Talks on Music and Music Therapy
Theoretical connections between music theory, aesthetics and clinical practice are studied.  Through comparison of music therapy case studies, the compositional process and musical aesthetics, students gain a greater understanding of the music in their clinical practice.  Students observe and evaluate ongoing music therapy sessions by experienced music therapists.  Clinical de-briefing gives students the opportunity to discuss clinical interventions and the therapeutic process.
MU603    0.5
Practicum III
Students are assigned to a clinical facility one-day-per-week.  Clinical work includes individual and group sessions.  Weekly supervision is provided by a qualified and experienced music therapist (24 weeks).
MU604    0.5
Practicum IV
A continuation of MU603, Practicum III.
MU605    0.5
Musical Resources IV
This course examines specific applications of musical elements and their clinical intent and potential.  Through isolation of musical components and their structure and expressive qualities, students understand how to apply musical forms for different clinical situations.  The aesthetics of music and form, the therapeutic relationship and the potential clinical results are explored.
MU606    0.5
Music Therapy Qualitative Research
Students learn and critically discuss modes of inquiry that do justice to the clinical process and improvisation in music therapy.  The acquisition of research skills includes the formulation of research questions, methods of data collection and the interpretive analysis of findings.  Students articulate their own research interests and develop a research topic for their major paper.
MU607    0.5
Music Therapy Supervision
Students study and discuss developing models of music therapy supervision.  Students learn about supervision and the supervision relationship through the presentation of case material and their own experience of supervision.  The interplay between musical and verbal evaluation is a crucial facet of the course.
MU608    0.5
Experiential Music Therapy
The experiential music therapy group offers students the opportunity to experience music therapy as a client.  Group members write a weekly log in order to analyse and reflect on the musical therapeutic process.
MU609    0.5
Major Paper
A major qualitative research paper consolidating one area of the student’s learning and experience.  The paper will be evaluated by an examination committee.
SK522    0.5
Clinical Social Work Practice with Individuals
This course focuses on the application of basic skills and theories to helping individuals. Generic stages in the helping process and the principles and skills in these various stages are reviewed. This includes consideration of interviewing skills, the principles and skills underlying the development of a good helping relationship, skills of holistic assessment and formulation, the application of clinical theory to understanding and intervening with individuals, issues in working with various marginalised populations, ethical issues, and note-taking and record-keeping. This course emphasizes a laboratory approach to teaching and practising skills. 
SK621    0.5
Use of Self
The emphasis of this course is on the differential use of self as it relates to the direct treatment experiences of the students during Practicum II.