Let your passion for music serve others.
Shenandoah’s Professional Studies Program for Music Therapy Certification Eligibility prepares you for practice as a Board Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC). As an approved program of the American Music Therapy Association and National Association of Schools of Music, it is perfect for students with a bachelor’s degree, skills as a musician, and an interest in working with people using the transformative power of music.
Celebrating our 50th year in 2025, our two-year, full time graduate program allows you to develop your skills and clinical expertise in a supportive, creative learning environment. Our comprehensive course of graduate-level study (39 credits) is especially designed for people who hold an undergraduate degree in music or a related field (e.g., music education, psychology, liberal studies, etc.) and wish to become Board Certified Music Therapists (MT-BC). You’ll meet for classes on campus two days a week, work in small, closely knit cohorts, and gain direct clinical experience, including a full-time internship.
Students completing the Professional Studies Program for Music Therapy Certification Eligibility come from a wide range of backgrounds. Some students have a music degree, some a psychology degree, and others a biology or history background. What all have in common is the goal of growing as musicians and using their music skills to serve others.
The graduate Professional Studies Program for Music Therapy Certification Eligibility not only prepared me practically for the day-to-day work of being a music therapist, but also supported the expansion of my imagination for what work in a therapeutic field could look like. Through the classes, course materials, clinical practicum experiences, and mentorship from the incredible and compassionate professors in the program, I felt prepared to step into the role of a music therapist with the tools necessary to grow into my own therapeutic identity and location, for the good of the wonderful humans with whom I get share connection with in music.”
Ali Deckard ’24, MT-BC
Music Therapist, Johns Hopkins Center for Music & Medicine
Music Therapist, A Place To Be
Learn More About This Program
Music therapy helps clients to develop skills, adapt behavior, and overcome obstacles in their lives. Music therapists use different kinds of music 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. Music therapists are creative, compassionate, thoughtful people.
Music therapy is goal directed, and music therapists learn skills in the assessment-treatment-evaluation process that allow them to work effectively with a broad range of clients. Depending on the setting, you work as part of an interdisciplinary team, alongside colleagues such as doctors, nurses, teachers, and physical therapists.
Music therapists work in a wide variety of settings that include schools, hospitals, psychiatric facilities, aged care facilities and hospices. Some settings, like aged care, tend to emphasize group work, whereas other settings, like hospitals and hospice, tend to emphasize individual work.
What is a board certified music therapist?
A board certified music therapist (MT-BC) is an individual who has successfully completed the nationally accredited Board Certification exam, demonstrating the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to practice professionally.
To learn more about the Professional Studies Program, or if you have questions about your eligibility for the program, please feel free to contact Dr. Meadows directly at anthony.meadows@smxjjl.com.
Internship Possibilities
Students complete a total of 1,200 hours of clinical work that includes a 6-month full-time internship in which they work directly and intensively with clients under the supervision of a music therapist. Through mentorship, students are guided into a setting of interest (e.g., hospital, school or private practice) and supported by faculty through the application process, remaining in contact with faculty throughout their internship.
Career & Salary Possibilities
Students who complete this program, and pass the Board Certification exam, work as music therapists (MT-BC) in a range of settings, including schools, hospitals, mental health facilities, hospice and private practice.
The American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) provides annual salary data for music therapists, updated each year and available online for review (see annual workforce analysis data). In 2024, the average salary for a music therapist was $66,731. The average salary for a music therapist in Virginia was $56,405.
Classes
Working in classes of 8-12 students, we combine theory and research with hands-on practical knowledge and skills. You work on assignments that develop your understanding of how to implement music therapy activities and experiences, and how to understand the complex needs of clients.
An interdisciplinary focus is included. Currently, 2nd year students participate in case reviews with graduate nursing students, focused on assessing and developing treatment plans for adults with mental health concerns. These kinds of collaborations build teamwork and increase student’s understanding of a music therapist’s role in interdisciplinary care.
View Full Music Therapy Curriculum
Here are examples of courses you will take:
MUTH 524 Performing Therapy: An Experiential Orientation gives students an experiential understanding of music therapy by writing and performing original song and musical materials that speaks to important life experiences that shape who each student is. By meeting with and working with children and adults who have learning differences, students learn from and incorporate their understanding of therapy and difference into their developing understanding of music therapy clinical practice.
MUTH 531 Psychology of Music takes students through important theories and research related to music therapy clinical practice. Students explore the neurobiology and neuroscience of music, music as a cultural phenomenon, and integrate current research into their clinical thinking.
MUTH 536 Medical Music Therapy drawing on biopsychosocial theories, students learn a wide range of music therapy practices for children and adults in medical settings. This includes methods that focus on pain management, reducing stress and anxiety, and dealing directly with the psychological distress experienced alongside a medical diagnosis. Students also complete a placement in a medical setting that helps develop these skills.
MUTH 583 Music Therapy Internship Students complete a 6-month full- time clinical placement in which they work directly and intensively with clients, under the supervision of a music therapist. Through mentorship, students are guided into a setting of interest (e.g. hospital) and supported by faculty through the application process, remaining in contact with faculty throughout internship.
Board Certification & State Licensure
The Professional Studies Program in Music Therapy Certification Eligibility is a graduate program intended for students who plan to work as a Board Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC). Students complete courses in music therapy, clinical foundations, clinical musicianship, 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, including any foundational music courses identified by the Director of Music Therapy during the interview/audition process. The CBMT administers the board certification exam, which is undertaken by students independently of their studies at Shenandoah University.
The MT-BC credential is a national credential 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.
Meet the Faculty
Shenandoah’s music therapy program is the oldest in Virginia, with a rich history of clinical preparation and research by students and faculty. Undergraduate and graduate classes are taught by a team of 11 faculty members, across four degree programs. Our graduate teaching faculty include:
Dr. Tony Meadows, MT-BC, LPC, FAMI, is Director of Music Therapy, advises all graduate students, and teaches in both the undergraduate and graduate programs. He is a GIM Fellow, Licensed Professional Counselor, and has more than 20 years of clinical experience. Dr. Meadows has published extensively in the field.
Dr. Bronwen Landless, PhD, MT-BC, has twenty years of clinical experience in a variety of psychiatric and community settings. With core values of belonging, well-being, and access at the center of her teaching, Bronwen facilitates collaborative teaching and learning communities in both the undergraduate and graduate programs. Her research, practice, and teaching are grounded in anti-oppressive, resource-oriented, and community music therapy approaches.
Dr. Hakeem Leonard, PhD, MT-BC, teaches in both the undergraduate and graduate programs, and has worked with a wide variety of clients. He has specific expertise in music therapy business practices, and multicultural awareness.
Application & Audition Information
Applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree in music or a related field (e.g., music education, psychology, etc.), with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). Students interested in applying to the program who do not have a music degree are encouraged to contact Dr. Meadows at anthony.meadows@smxjjl.com to discuss music core requirements. After applying, you must arrange an audition by emailing Dr. Meadows at anthony.meadows@smxjjl.com. In order to be admitted into the graduate music therapy program, you must be admitted into the Shenandoah Conservatory and pass the audition/interview.
The audition is 30 minutes and divided into two parts. In the first part, you sing and play a total of four songs on piano and guitar (two each) demonstrating your current level of musicianship. You choose a range of styles that reflect your interests and skills, including children’s songs, pop, folk, show, jazz, blues and traditional music.
In the second part of the audition, you will be asked a range of questions about your interest in music therapy, your background experiences, goals, and general knowledge of the field. You will also be given the opportunity to ask questions about the program.
Scheduling An Audition
Auditions can be arranged in one of two ways. For applicants who live close to campus, auditions are scheduled on campus. Students can also elect to complete the interview on Zoom, submitting an audition video prior to the interview.
Gainful Employment Information
| Job Title | Cohort Number of graduates | Number of Students Graduated On Time | On Time Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Music Therapist | 8 | 8 | 100% |
| Length of Program | Credits | Credit Hour Average Tuition | Program Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 years | 39 | $500.00 | Approximately $22,035 plus professional core, music skills lessons and conservatory fees* |
*Students also need to complete up to an additional 15 professional core credits and take up to three semesters of piano, guitar and voice lessons, depending on skill level.
| Books $45 per credit/Supplies | Program Median Loan Debt |
|---|---|
| $1,350.00 | 0 |
What Makes a Good Music Therapist?
Students who come into our graduate music therapy program are looking to combine their love of music with a desire to help others. They can be music therapists (MT-BC) seeking to advance their knowledge of theory, research and clinical practice or students with an undergraduate degree in music or a related field seeking to enter the field of music therapy. Both are typically interested in psychology and may also be interested in 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, hip-hop, 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 serve others, you need the motivation, maturity and creativity to work with people who desire a wide range of outcomes. 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 transform themselves—they know first-hand what it’s like to use music therapeutically, and what it’s like to overcome life’s challenges.
