As a music therapist, you make a difference in people’s lives. Combining your love of music and passion for helping people, you develop the musical, clinical and collaborative skills essential to practice as a Board Certified Music Therapist.
Our American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) approved program prepares you to work with children, teens and adults in a wide range of settings — including schools, hospitals, retirement communities and hospice settings. You learn to design, implement and evaluate therapeutic music experiences tailored to the individual needs of the clients you work with.
We place collaboration at the core of everything we do. We lead the field in Interprofessional Education, and you will be involved in program-wide and program-to-program learning experiences with health professions students that help you develop collaborative interdisciplinary skills.
You develop yourself as a musician in a wide variety of ways: work in community performances and special events specific to music therapy; take multiple semesters of clinical guitar, piano, voice and percussion to develop your clinical musicianship; and learn to work musically with clients and patients to meet their therapeutic needs.
Because music therapists work with clients who come from a wide variety of cultural, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds, we also place cultural competence and reflexivity at the core of your learning. You learn the importance of practicing cultural humility, understanding the cultural meanings of music and designing music experiences that support and affirm the cultural heritage of the clients you work with.
In choosing to join the Shenandoah Conservatory family, you will access opportunities to learn to be a music therapist through cutting-edge virtual reality experiences, interprofessional education and simulation, and immersive local community and global learning. You will do so with the support of dedicated professors and clinical supervisors, in a warm, caring environment as part of a well-established conservatory program with a 45-year history. Come and be a part of this dynamic learning environment. Come to make a difference.
Student Spotlight: Farren Winter ’24 (B.M.T.)
I am beyond thankful to be a part of two great programs here at SU! As a student athlete and a music therapy student, I have always felt so supported by the music therapy faculty and students in a learning environment and within the music therapy community! It is such a great group of talented and kind people that are so supportive and driven. The music therapy program here at SU has such encouraging faculty, extensive and comprehensive classes, and multiple practicum placements to learn and gain clinical experience. SU’s music therapy program provides so many opportunities to collaborate with other studies and within our community. I am so grateful to learn from, and be a part of such an empowering and accepting group of people.” – Farren Winter
Learn More About This Program
The music therapy program at Shenandoah University is one of only two programs in the state of Virginia, and our 40-year program has become a hub for music therapy activity in the community. Our partnerships with agencies such as the Adult Care Center, Winchester Memorial Hospital, Blue Ridge Hospice, NW Works, NREP and Westminster Canterbury offer numerous opportunities for you to gain hands-on experience beyond the classroom, and to increase your employment possibilities after graduation.
The SU Music Therapy Association (SUMTA) provides links to state, regional and national organizations in music therapy, and provides you with service-oriented opportunities in the community, as well as opportunities to attend music therapy workshops and conferences in support of your education at Shenandoah.
Music therapy helps clients to develop skills, adapt behavior, and overcome obstacles in their lives. Music therapists use different kinds of musical experiences, such as singing, improvising, songwriting and listening to and talking about music, to meet clients’ needs using the unique relationship between client, music and therapist.
The SU Music Therapy Association (SUMTA) provides links to state, regional and national organizations in music therapy, and provides you with service-oriented opportunities in the community, as well as opportunities to attend music therapy workshops and conferences in support of your education at Shenandoah.
Minor in Music, Theatre, Dance or Music Composition
Shenandoah Conservatory offers minors in Music, Theatre or Dance for all Shenandoah University students.
Shenandoah also offers a new minor in Music Composition for conservatory students who wish to build composition skills and enhance their creative music-making experience while pursuing other degree programs in the conservatory.
Acceptance into conservatory minors must be approved by the Division/Department Chair, and some minors require an audition.
Learn More about Conservatory Minors
Declaring A Minor
Shenandoah students work with their Academic Advisor to declare a minor. Academic Advisors will continue to work with students to ensure that they fulfill all of the requirements to complete the minor.
Incoming students should not indicate their intended minor on their Shenandoah application; applications are for intended majors only.
Internship Possibilities
Students complete an internship placement in which they work directly and intensively with clients, under the supervision of a music therapist. Through internship, students are guided into a setting of interest (e.g. hospital) and are supported by and remain in contact with faculty throughout internship.
Students have the opportunity to participate in international music therapy cultural programs arranged through the Shenandoah Conservatory and approved programs outside of the Conservatory such as the Jamaica Field Service Project.
Studying music therapy at Shenandoah University has been a true blessing. The moment I stepped onto campus, I knew Shenandoah would be my home and I am every bit as in love with my school now as I was on the first day. The music therapy program has exceeded all of my expectations in preparing and inspiring me for a bright future. Through my classroom and practicum experiences I have learned from several incredible professors and supervisors. As a student, I have already had the opportunity to touch the lives of people through music therapy experiences. I have worked with dementia patients, at-risk youth, adults with developmental disabilities and people with traumatic brain injury through several practicum experiences and extracurricular opportunities for music therapy students. With Shenandoah’s guidance, I am looking forward to an exciting internship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and a fulfilling career as a music therapist.
—Caitlin Clark, Music Therapy, ’16
Career Possibilities
Shenandoah University has a longstanding tradition of preparing students for careers as music therapists, allied health professionals and teachers, and draws upon community resources and nationally recognized faculty to do so.
Music therapists work in a wide variety of clinical and educational settings: hospitals, psychiatric institutions, nursing homes, community mental health centers, prisons, schools, private practice and hospice facilities. Upon completion of the program, you’ll be eligible for employment as an activities coordinator or therapist, clinical therapist, developmental therapist, early intervention specialist or bereavement coordinator.
As the profession continues to grow, there is an increasing demand for music therapists with clinical experience and advanced degrees to serve as advanced practice clinicians, particularly in psychiatric settings, hospices and hospitals. Shenandoah receives many requests for assistance in finding music therapists to fill positions, and these are shared with students in the program. Professional job listings are also published bimonthly by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) and the Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Music Therapy Association (MAR-AMTA).
Music Therapy major Emily Menhorn ’15 is changing the lives of patients at Children’s Hospital in Oklahoma City! “He’ll lie in bed sick all day long and not speak to his doctors, nurses, or us, and Miss Emily comes in and he jumps out of bed and starts playing the drums,” said the mother of one of Emily’s patients, Carson. In a place with so much fear and uncertainty, of pain and unhappiness, Emily is a light that pierces darkness. “It is easier to be here when she’s around,” asks a hospital visitor? “Yeah.” says Carson. “Like how,” he presses. Carson replies, “Because she gives us hope.”
Classes
The program emphasizes music foundations; clinical foundations, including studies in psychology, human development, exceptionality, psychopathology principles of therapy and the therapeutic relationship; and music therapy foundations, where you’ll progress through courses that promote the development of specific competencies in clinical musicianship and application of therapeutic principles and in six different clinical experiences prior to internship.
View Full Music Therapy Curriculum
Learning support services are available to all students in every course at Shenandoah. Free peer tutoring with a student who has previously succeeded in the course is available for any course across the university. The Writing Center is available for every stage of the writing process from thesis development to proofreading and bibliography assistance. The Math Enrichment Center is available for math and science assistance. Professors and Academic Advisors across the university also have office hours and open door policies to ensure Shenandoah students succeed academically.
Board Certification & State Licensure
The Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy curriculum is intended for students who plan to work as a Board Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC). Students complete courses in music, music therapy, clinical foundations and 1,200 hours of clinical training in order to be eligible for the board certification exam, which is administered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT). Students apply for the board certification exam after successfully completing all academic and internship requirements. CBMT administers the board certification exam, which is undertaken by students independently of their studies at Shenandoah University.
Music therapy majors complete up to six practicum experiences during their studies, and then undertake a six-month internship after competing all required coursework in the degree program (1,200 hours of clinical practice). Students apply to and are accepted into an internship by the clinical training site, and are not guaranteed an internship when they enter the program. Rather, students apply to multiple internship sites and choose an internship based upon their acceptance into these sites. While every effort is made to support students so they may begin internship in their 9th semester of their degree program, students are occasionally delayed starting internship because of the site start date for their internship.
The MT-BC credential is a national credential that is recognized by the state of Virginia. While nationally recognized, some states also require a license to practice. Students should consult with the American Music Therapy Association website for specific information on state licensure and recognition requirements should they wish to practice in another state at www.musictherapy.org/policy/stateadvocacy. Currently, the following states require a license to practice: Georgia, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah and Virginia (law passed but not yet enacted). Utah maintains state certification, while Connecticut and Wisconsin maintain a registry.
Contact Dr. Anthony Meadows, Director of Music Therapy, at ameadows2@su.edu if you have additional questions. You may also call (540) 665-4583.
Performance Opportunities & Ensembles
Music Therapy students with great interest in performance are encouraged to audition for the Shenandoah Conservatory Performance Certificate program. The program allows students to study additional repertoire in the applied lessons, perform recitals and receive documentation of advanced performance abilities (without pursuing dual degrees). Moreover, the completion of a performance certificate informs graduate schools and future employers of the student’s advanced performance education and experience.
Quenton was the main worship arts coordinator for the student-led chapel services on campus, and had many positions as the contemporary worship leader for United Methodist Churches around Virginia as well as the worship leader for various mission trips. Quenton performs on a plethora of instruments including piano, guitar, drum set, bass, banjo, ukulele, harmonica, mandolin, and more, and has been trained to use music effectively as a therapeutic tool in multiple types of medical settings. He has also composed two full concept albums and an extended play and has multiple digital releases of original music on sites such as iTunes, Amazon, and Spotify!
—Quenton Clarke, Music Therapy, ’16
Shenandoah Conservatory produces more than 300 performances each year. Enroll in a dynamic curriculum and start preparing for a meaningful career in the arts. You will practice your craft in front of audiences and develop a plan for your professional launch into the industry that focuses on your personal desires and aspirations.
Embrace extensive performance opportunities with top-tier facilities from theatres, concert halls and dance studios. Unite with fellow artists and join an alumni family that takes center stage from Broadway to the concert halls of Europe.
Shenandoah Conservatory Performances
Ensembles
Shenandoah Conservatory is home to more than 30 performing groups — including instrumental, vocal, and dance ensembles — that present numerous performances every year. These performances take place throughout Shenandoah University’s vibrant campus on its various stages, including a concert hall, recital hall, proscenium stage, black box studio, outdoor amphitheater and more, to venues and performance spaces in the Northern Shenandoah Valley and around the world. Ensembles constantly engage with Shenandoah’s dynamic faculty and an array of distinguished guest artists through residencies, workshops and unique performance opportunities.
Faculty
Each faculty member in the music therapy department has established particular areas of expertise that are foundational to their expression as music therapists and music therapy researchers. You’ll learn from experienced and supportive professors, and benefit from access to music therapy clinic supplies with instruments and helpful technology, including neurobiofeedback software, state-of-the-art keyboard, iPods and other mobile technology.
Our faculty guide you toward “best-practices” that are well-linked to theoretical foundations and supported in research, as well as toward new directions in music therapy, including prevention and wellness for individuals and communities.
Application & Audition Information
Shenandoah University works on rolling admissions. Applications are reviewed individually and holistically.
Submit your application, review required admissions materials, and find our admissions standards.
Admission to Shenandoah Conservatory is highly competitive. Not only must students be academically admissible, they must also complete and pass the mandatory audition/portfolio review and interview process. Audition dates are limited and may fill and close well in advance of the audition date.
Acceptable Instruments for This Program
All instruments accepted by Shenandoah Conservatory are suitable for this program.
Study Abroad
Students have the opportunity to participate in international music therapy cultural programs arranged through the Shenandoah Conservatory and approved programs outside of the Conservatory such as the Jamaica Field Service Project.
Make studying abroad the highlight of your college experience! Whether you go for a year, a semester, or just a few weeks, you will never forget learning in another culture! The Center for International Programs is here to help you plan your study abroad experience. Start your planning early to ensure the courses you complete abroad count toward your degree and you graduate on time.
Global Experiential Learning (GEL) Program
The Global Experiential Learning (GEL) Program offers Shenandoah students a short-term, faculty-led, study-abroad experience for academic credit. These short-term, credit-bearing, faculty-led programs are offered winter break, spring break, and during the summer. If a course is not within your major, it might be used as an elective.
Study Abroad
Shenandoah University is a member of the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP), a global network of 300 universities. This partnership allows students to study for a full semester or year at other member campuses abroad. By working closely with their academic advisors and the study abroad advisor, students can take classes taught in English abroad while receiving Shenandoah credit.
Shenandoah University also maintains direct partnerships with several universities around the world. These relationships allow students from SU to study abroad as exchange students and students from these universities to study at SU. All partner universities offer courses taught in English.
Qualities of Good Music Therapists
Students who come into our music therapy program are looking to combine their love of music with a desire to help others, and are typically interested in psychology, medicine, and/or philosophy.
Being intellectually curious is very important. Having the desire to open yourself to new concepts, theories and ideas is essential in your development as a music therapist, as are your writing and critical thinking abilities.
Being a competent musician is also very important. Understanding how to reach others through singing and playing, improvising and moving to music means that you need to be well rounded musically. During your training you develop guitar, piano and vocal skills in a range of styles such as rock, folk, country, oldies, children’s songs and sometimes even your own compositions.
Finally, being in good mental and physical health is very important. In order to help others, you need the motivation, maturity and creativity to work with people who have a wide range of needs. This means growing and adapting to different settings and people, being open to supervision and feedback, and having the emotional capacity to “be there” for someone else. The best therapists are often those people who have used music to help or heal themselves—they know first-hand what it’s like to use music therapeutically, and what it’s like to overcome life’s challenges.