Music therapy is a broad and diverse field where skilled clinicians work with clients to accomplish their personal and health-related goals through music. Music therapists work in a wide range of environments, including hospitals, schools, early intervention programs, assisted living facilities, long-term care, memory care, hospices, psychiatric facilities, group homes, and private practices. Becoming a music therapist in the United States requires a minimum of a bachelor’s degree at an accredited institution, and then passing the national board certification exam.

Students in the Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy degree program take 32 credits of music-therapy-specific courses in addition to music and Rowan Core requirements, for a total of 120 credits. Selected courses in the music therapy concentration are offered primarily online via asynchronous delivery (students review materials and complete work on their schedule) with on-campus meetings two to three times per semester for a total of 12 hours of face-to-face class time per 3-credit course. These courses include Foundations of Music Therapy, Psychology of Music, Principles of Music Therapy I and II, Music Therapy Research Methods, and Therapeutic Principles for Music Therapists. Other courses are offered via face-to-face instruction on weekday evenings once per week. These courses include Clinical Piano Skills I and II, Clinical Guitar Skills, and Music Applications for Music Therapy I, II, and III. Music Therapy Practicum I, II, and III and Residency in Music Therapy require supervised field placements in the community under the supervision of a board-certified music therapist. Students complete approximately 65 hours for each semester of Practicum and 1000 hours over two semesters of Residency, totaling 1200 hours. Courses outside of the music therapy program may be offered in online or face-to-face delivery formats, including ensembles and applied lessons that require face-to-face instruction.

The Music Therapy Post-Baccalaureate Certificate is a 38-credit, full-time or part-time program offered in a hybrid format. The music therapy courses are cross-listed with the bachelor’s courses: post-baccalaureate students take classes with the bachelor’s degree students according to the format described above. Similarly, these students undertake the same clinical training requirements (practicum and residency) for a total of 1200 hours of clinical training. And, as described above, outside of the music therapy program (Developmental Psychopathology and Abnormal Psychology) may be offered in online or face-to-face delivery formats.

View Program Guide for Bachelor of Music, Music Therapy here 

If you are interested in applying for the Bachelors of Music in Music Therapy program, please complete an application with the university and register for an audition with the music department.

If you are interested in applying for the post-baccalaureate certificate in music therapy, please apply through the Rowan Global application.

• Dr. Andrea Hunt

• Participants will be able to play along with/sing 3 songs (using melodic or rhythmic instruments) in respective Brasilian music styles of samba, Maxixe and choro on their chosen instrument (woodwinds/brass/percussion/voice/piano, or guitar). (CBMT domains: III A.5a, c, f(2,3,4,6), VA.6)
• Participants will be able to identify and extract music elements (melodic, rhythmic) from Brasilian music styles of samba, Maxixe, and choroand integrate these in an improvisational experience (CBMT Domains: IIIA.5.o; IIIA.4c, g; IIIA.5a, c, d, e, f, g, i)
• Participants will be able to identify one way to integrate self-reflective practice related to cultural humility in music therapy clinical practice. ( CBMT domains: III B.3)

Founded by Fernanda Silveira (Cavaquinho), Fabio Oliveira (Percussion), and Vitor Sampaio (Guitar), Regional Samaúma is a Choro and samba ensemble active in New York. Inspired by groups such as “Regional do Benedito Lacerda,” “Regional do Canhoto,” and “Época de Ouro,” the Regional Regional Samaúma supports other experienced musicians who dedicate themselves to Brazilian music.

Jennifer Gravish, MMT, MT-BC, Doctoral Candidate in Music Therapy, integrates a resource-oriented music therapy approach with people experiencing mental illness and housing insecurity. She has studied Brasilian music playing techniques in the U.S./Brasil since 2002.

10am Welcome

10:30-11:30 Group work – Focus on Choro

11:30-noon Short Break

Noon-1pm Read through all 3 choros (Polka, Maxixe, and Choro)

1-2pm Lunch Break

2-2:30pm Samba Rhythms for all

2:30pm Vocals of Samba tune (melody and lyrics)

3pm Samba on each of the instruments

3:20pm Play through the song a few times

3:30pm Wrap up and questions

4pm Break

Number of Credits: 5 (2 Ethics credits)

CBMT approval pending 

Cost: $60 | Register Here

This course is free for Black and Indigenous Music Therapists and Black and Indigenous Music Therapy Students as a form of reparations. Contact Andrea Hunt at hunta@rowan.edu to request reparations pricing.

Full refunds are available until 24 hours before the start of the course, at which time payment is nonrefundable.