Music Therapy Bachelor of Music (BM)

Be the Best Therapist You Can Be with a Music Therapy Degree from Marywood!

The power of music can remove physical, verbal, and emotional barriers. Music Therapy can truly transform the health and wellness of patients who find new avenues of expression through music. If you want to help change people's lives through music, then a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Therapy from Marywood University is the right choice for you!

You'll be prepared for a professional music therapy career through our competency-based curriculum. Music Therapy degree candidates must complete a minimum of 1,200 hours of clinical training with two components: pre-internship and internship.

  • Pre-internship training consists of various practical field experiences with at least three different populations, taken by a student in conjunction with music therapy course work as pre-requisite for internship placement.
  • Internship is the culminating, in-depth, supervised clinical training experience in an entry-level degree program in music therapy. Students may choose from the academic institution's roster of affiliated internship programs, the national roster of all AMTA-approved internship sites in collaboration with the music therapy advisor.

Program completion leads to board certification as a music therapist. Following academic studies and required clinical training, candidates are eligible to take the National Board Certification Examination for Music Therapists, designed and administered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT). The credential earned is Music Therapist-Board Certified (MT-BC). Professional membership available with the American Music Therapy Association, Inc. (AMTA).

Over the last 10 years, 85% of Marywood University Music Therapy graduates have passed the Certification Board for Music Therapists certification examination, exceeding the national pass rate of 74%. 

  • Prepare for a professional career with children, adolescents, and adults with special needs
  • Eligibility for National Board Certification Examination for Music Therapists
  • Clinical training and internship

Audition Information

Top Employers

  • Colleges and Universities
  • Mental Health Facilities
  • Clinical and Doctors' Offices
  • School Districts

Top Career Paths

  • Institutional Music Therapist
  • Private Practice Music Therapist
  • Counselor
  • Music Therapy Professor

Dig Deeper Into the Program Details

Undergraduate Admissions Requirements

  • Completed application
  • Official transcripts
  • Letter of recommendation
  • Official SAT and/or ACT test scores (Marywood is test optional)
  • Essay (optional)

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All Undergraduate & Transfer Students

Acceptance by the University is required before an audition can be scheduled. 

  • Apply to University. (click “Admissions” for further information).
  • FAFSA Deadlines for financial aid: February 15 (fall entry) and November 1 (spring entry).
  • For talent scholarship consideration, auditions must be completed by March 1.
  • Transfer students must complete a minimum 30 credits in music courses at Marywood. Transfer students in education must have GPA 3.0 minimum for acceptance.

Accompaniment

Instrumental applicants should plan to perform unaccompanied.

An accompanist will be provided for vocal auditions.                 

General Guidelines for All Auditions

Perform two contrasting works demonstrating technical skills and musicianship. Memorization of vocal audition pieces is strongly recommended. 

Skills Assessment

Sight-Singing and Sight-Reading

Sight singing and sight reading are a part of all auditions.

All auditioning students will be asked to take a short music theory test. This test is used only for placement and does not impact acceptance in our programs. 

The Sette LaVerghetta Performing Arts Center (PAC) is a three-story structure located on the western edge of campus that houses the Music, Theatre, & Dance (MTD) department within the College of Arts and Sciences. The MTD department is comprised of faculty offices and studios, classrooms and practice rooms, music therapy lab and clinical observation room, small recital room, dance studio, Black Box Theatre, and main stage theatre.

The Performing Arts Theatre is the main stage theatre and recital hall for all University-related events. This large 1100-seat performance space contains a proscenium stage, orchestra pit, dressing rooms, box offices, control room, backstage area and the ability to fly scenery. Other features include sound and lighting boards, a 9-foot Steinway grand piano and 7-foot Steinway grand piano (on stage), a Mason & Hamlin grand piano (orchestra pit), and large Allen electronic organ.

PAC Room 104 (first floor) is used as a student recital hall, large-ensemble rehearsal space, and meeting room. It houses two grand pianos and has a raised stage for performances. Two classrooms, the music therapy lab and observation room, and music therapy faculty offices are also located on the first floor. The second floor houses teaching studios, ten practice rooms containing both upright Yamaha and Grand pianos, a small harp studio with three harps, guitar studio, and faculty offices.

Music Therapy Research Lab (Room 106, first floor) contains biofeedback equipment interfaced on PC (Electromyography/EMG -2 channels), Temperature, Skin Conduction (2 channels). Also included are stand-alone biofeedback instruments: Resp@Rate; OMRON and a Marshall-Auto-Oscillometric Electronic Digital Blood Pressure and Pulse Monitor with Print-Out. The Music Therapy Clinic (Room 106, first floor) is a fully-supervised clinical setting complete with a one-way mirror for observations. University music therapy students, under the supervision of the clinic coordinator, offer weekly services to community individuals with special needs.

Computer Lab (first floor) is an open lab classroom with sixteen MAC computers for student use. In addition to Microsoft Office and Internet capability, software applications include set/lighting design and scriptwriting.

The Electronic Music Lab (second floor) has eight computers with Internet access and Sibelius music-writing software; eight portable MIDI keyboards; two full-size electronic keyboards; and mixers. The Piano Lab (second floor) contains twelve Yamaha Clavinova electronic pianos in addition to a master piano, each featuring a full-sized touch-sensitive keyboard. Piano Lab also houses a MAC computer. Music scores library/storage space for choral and orchestral music is also located on the second floor. Six large classrooms and a student lounge are located on terrace floor/lower level.

People enjoying a Marywood Music Therapy session

Music Therapy Clinic

2300 Adams Ave
Map & Directions

The purpose of the Music Therapy Clinic is two-fold, namely, to provide music therapy majors with an educational opportunity for hands on one-on-one clinical experience under the supervision of a board certified-music therapist; and secondly, as an out- reach to those in the community with special needs

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The front of the Marywood Sette Laverghetta Center for Performing Arts

Sette LaVerghetta Center for Performing Arts

2300 Adams Avenue
Map & Directions

The Sette LaVerghetta Center for Performing Arts is a three-story structure that houses the Music, Theatre, & Dance (MTD) department. The facility includes studios, classrooms and practice rooms, music therapy lab and clinical observation room, a small recital room, dance studio, and a Black Box Theatre.

Learn More  |  Take a Virtual Tour
The ceiling of the rotunda from the ground

Rotunda


Map & Directions

The Rotunda, an iconic campus landmark, is part of the Liberal Arts Center. It features historic murals by Roman artist Gonippo Raggi and the Hall of Presidents. The Admissions Office is adjacent to the Rotunda.

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An empty view of the wooden floors in the Latour Conference room

Latour Room


Map & Directions

The Latour Room, located in the Nazareth Student Center, is a large, open multipurpose room with media capabilities. It accommodates up to 500 people. It is a flexible space, which can accommodate multiple presentation/event formats, with or without tables and chairs.

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The rustic inside of the Marywood Black Box Theater with dark wooden floors, plants, and objects hanging from the walls

Black Box Theatre

2300 Adams Avenue
Map & Directions

Black Box Theatre, located on the terrace level of the Sette LaVerghetta Center for Performing Arts, is a laboratory theatre designed with flex staging to accommodate student-directed productions and to support experimental theatre.

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Marywood University scholarship funds are available to students majoring in music therapy. Presidential and Endowed Scholarships from the University, as well as Talent Scholarships, are awarded to select applicants. In order to be considered for a Talent Scholarship, you must audition by March 1.

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80+ opportunities for you to find the right fit with 50+ undergraduate degrees and 30+ graduate and certificate courses.

MTD Student Handbook

The information in this handbook is designed to familiarize you with university and department policies specific to the MTD degree programs.
Please save this handbook, as it will provide guidance throughout your studies at Marywood. Bring this handbook to all academic advising sessions.

Student Handbook

From #DayOne, Marywood is here for you each step of the way.

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