Former Students Discuss the SMWC Music Therapy Equivalency Program

The SMWC Music Therapy Equivalency Campus Program provides an opportunity for men and women who have a degree in music or a related area to pursue study in the field of music therapy. The course of study is tailored to meet the needs of each person who attends, and completion of the Equivalency Campus program enables students to be eligible to take the board certification examination that leads to the MT-BC (Music Therapist-Board Certified) credential.

Individuals who have pursued music therapy as a career through the SMWC Equivalency Campus program have had interesting and diverse paths prior to attending Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. After gaining a Master of Arts degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy, Brenda Buchanan (’10) became excited about the career opportunities available in music therapy. Gloria Stearns-Bruner (’11) was a professional violinist for 20 years, and had always felt drawn to music’s healing powers. “At age 47 with 4 kids and an amazingly supportive husband, I left all my work and went back to school…with renewed inspiration and strength.” After spending several years as a music educator and Kindermusik teacher, Briana Priester (‘12) discovered her love for helping children with life skills through music. “I knew that there was something bigger for me,” stated Priester.

Because of this valuable life experience that Equivalency Campus students bring to the classroom, the perspectives of traditional undergraduate students and instructors are enriched. “Sharing this learning with younger students was a great joy and there was a lot of exchange between us,” said Stearns-Bruner. “…I felt they valued my perspective.” Another aspect of the SMWC Equivalency Campus program is its nurturance of individual strengths and areas of need. “The time she [Sharon R. Boyle, Associate Professor and Coordinator of Undergraduate Music Therapy] took to attend to my individual skills and needs in field work was invaluable. Boyle taught with deep understanding and commitment to produce the best, well rounded, creative and skilled music therapists,” said Stearns-Bruner, “The focus on self-care and awareness has been a very important aspect of the program and I see now how that is the core of being able to work successfully and effectively.”

For Priester, the student-instructor interaction was of upmost importance to her academic success. “As an older student, being able to be in an actual classroom was really important. At home, I had distractions… [and] the life experience of your professors is more valuable than the price of gas it takes to get from home to school!” The student-centered approach of the music therapy faculty allows Equivalency students to take exactly the classes they need. As expressed by Buchanan, “SMWC offered the required courses which allowed me to apply for an internship… and did not require me to take unnecessary classes in order to complete my program.”

Those who have recently completed the SMWC Music Therapy Equivalency Campus program hope to impact the field of music therapy, their clients, and their communities in a variety of ways. “I want to do research,” said Buchanan, “as there is much that needs to be researched in order to help music therapy gain wider acceptance.” Priester spoke about the role she hopes to play in the lives of her clients. “We are all human, created as individuals to impact the lives of those around us. It is my sincerest hope that I can enable those I work with to lead their lives with dignity and purpose.”

Reflecting on her desires now as a board certified music therapist, Stearns-Bruner considered her impact on the community and the role that her education at SMWC continues to play in that process. “I hope to offer my clients a new way of clarifying their strengths and their ability to heal and be well. I hope to influence the community in understanding music therapy as a cutting edge, yet ancient healing profession that…makes our community safer, stronger and healthier. Completion of the Equivalency program has given me a sense of competence, confidence, and openness which has enabled me to give life to these hopes. I highly recommend this program for its well balanced, professional, and inspiring instruction, the caring and openness of other students and of course the absolutely wonderful setting of St. Mary-of-the-Woods College. ”

Interested in pursuing music therapy through our Equivalency CAMPUS program*?

All Equivalency Campus prospective students must complete a special student status application form and request an audition and interview through the Department of Music and Theatre. For more information, contact Sharon R. Boyle, Associate Professor of Music Therapy and Coordinator of Undergraduate Music Therapy (sboyle@smwc.edu) and visit http://www.smwc.edu/music-and-theatre/auditions/ to set up an audition/interview.

Advice from previous Campus Equivalency students:

“First, be very clear that there is support for [your] hard work, both at home and at work. It takes a huge commitment of time and energy…[but] I became closer to all my children and husband because of the vibrancy and groundedness I was experiencing in this new path.” - Gloria Stearns-Bruner (’11)

“You should plan to be flexible.” - Brenda Buchanan (’10)

“Take risks. You will grow and develop as you need to with the support of fellow students and professors…so allow yourself the time to evolve.” - Briana Priester (’12)

Interested in pursuing music therapy through an Equivalency DISTANCE program?

Beginning in August 2012, the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Music Therapy Distance Equivalency program will launch. The distance format requires prospective students to already have a degree in music. Please contact Dr. Tracy Richardson, Associate Professor of Music Therapy (trichardson@smwc.edu) and/or visit http://www.smwc.edu/music-therapy-equivalency-distance-program/ for more information.

Help the SMWC Music Therapy Program Raise Funds!

St. Mary-of-the-Woods College Music Therapy in the Valley

When students in the Music Therapy programs at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College enter the clinical phase of their education, they train as student music therapists in Wabash Valley agencies that serve individuals with emotional, developmental, or physical disabilities. They work with adults and children with psychiatric disorders, intellectual and developmental disabilities, speech and hearing impairments, physical disabilities, and neurological impairments, among others. Music therapy has been a recognized profession in the United States since the 1940's and therapists are increasingly working in health care delivery, such as hospice care, substance abuse programs, oncology treatment centers, pain/stress management clinics, and correctional settings. As they train to be Board-Certified Music Therapists, SMWC students learn to involve participants in musical experiences that help them reach their physical, developmental, social, cognitive, or emotional goals.

Rhythm is at the core of several approaches to music therapy. Many world percussion instruments (African, Latin American, etc.) are easily interactive and provide both rhythm and harmony. For example, individuals with Alzheimer's Disease have been found to respond to rhythm into the late stages of the disease; rhythm is also basic to gait, speech, and other physiological functions. Therefore, percussion is valuable in group and individual therapeutic settings.

SMWC offers baccalaureate and Master's degrees in Music Therapy and will offer the nation's first distance-learning music therapy equivalency program for people with undergraduate music degrees in fall 2012. Community support of $820 will provide a shekere (West-African gourd-shaped instrument covered in a beaded net), a string cajon drum (Afro-Peruvian box-shaped drum), a Conga drum set (Cuba), and an alto xylophone (Africa, Asia) to broaden the inventory of percussion instruments used by students in all of these programs.

If you are interested in donating to this project, please click this link. for more information!

SMWC and AIMT to co-sponsor Music Therapy Drumming Institute at Woods

If you are a music therapy student, intern, or professional, plan to attend the Music Therapy Drumming Institute entitled: Building a Relationship
with Percussion Instruments: Foundational Musical and Clinical Skills.

Who is presenting? Bill Matney, M.A., MT-BC, works as a music therapist, educator, and percussionist. He currently serves as a full-time music therapist in a school district special education setting, as well as an adjunct lecturer at Texas Women’s University. Bill has authored the book Tataku: The Use of Percussion in Music Therapy, as well as co-authored Roots and Branches Volume 1: Songs of Tradition and Culture.


When is the Institute? Saturday, April 21st from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Where is the Institute going to take place? Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College campus, Conservatory building, Cecilian Auditorium. Click here to access directions and a campus map.

What is included in registration? Participants can obtain 6 CMTE credits and lunch will be provided in the foyer of the Conservatory building.

Should I bring any instruments? You are encouraged to bring percussion instruments you utilize in your own practice, but please make sure they are clearly marked with your name or contact information as other instruments will also be provided.

How do I register and find out more? See the AIMT website for a registration form and brochure by clicking here.

A New Semester, Renewed Perspective

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods music therapy students return, along with their classmates from all over campus, this Monday and the weather this January is reminiscent of spring weather, not winter!

January is the start of a new calendar year (Happy 2012!), the start of a new semester, and also means that many students are preparing for internships and/or graduation. This semester is always one of beginnings and endings, transition and growth.

There are also other events happening in the music therapy world this month. For example, it is the second annual Music Therapy Social Media Advocacy Month. If you are on Twitter, be sure to follow the #mtadvocacy hashtag for your connection to many discussions about advocacy. Many bloggers are posting about music therapy advocacy, and Facebook pages are discussing it, and so check it out. To get started, you might try reading Kimberly Sena Moore's blog or check out this thoughtful post Engaging in Music Therapy Advocacy: What it has Brought Us, and What it May Mean for Us found on music therapist Bill Matney's website.

When I think of advocacy, I think about all the conversations I have on a weekly basis with my students, the people in my community, on our campus, and even within my own department. Advocacy has many levels of involvement, from a casual conversation (and making the choice to answer the question "So, what IS music therapy"), to a formal meeting (e.g. proposing the continuation of, or even creating, a music therapy program in a facility), to contacting government officials on the state, regional, and national level to educate them about the importance of music therapy as part of our healthcare system.

Music therapists are a special breed of healthcare professional. They are so extremely service-oriented that while they always advocate for their own clients, they also advocate for their profession because it benefits individuals, families, communities and society-at-large as well. That is something worth talking about, don't you think?

--Sharon R. Boyle, Associate Professor of Music Therapy and Coordinator of Undergraduate Music Therapy at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

NPR's Science Friday Interview with Dr. Sacks, Dr. Tomaino, Dr. Bradt, and Andrew Rossetti, MMT, MT-BC

Treating Stress, Speech Disorders with Music

Listen to the podcast of this wonderful interview with two music therapists: Dr. Connie Tomaino and Dr. Joke Bradt, as well as neurologist Dr. Oliver Sacks.

Meet Two SMWC Music Therapy Students Headed to Internship in January 2012

Jillian Storm is a native of Madison, Indiana. She has enjoyed playing the guitar since she was seven, and studied string bass throughout her undergraduate career. Jill participated in Jazz Band, Wind Ensemble, Chorale, and was a past Vice-President of Music Therapy Club and a member of Mu Phi Epsilon. In her free time, she is an avid photographer, reader, cyclist, and adventurer. In January, Jill will begin her six-month music therapy internship at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. She will be living near Indianapolis with a Woodsie who first encouraged her to attend SMWC. Jill hopes to enroll in one of SMWC’s Master of Arts in Music Therapy courses during her internship, and says she “love to work in a psychiatric setting and/or with children somebody…but also leave myself plenty of time to travel!”

1) How have you grown personally and academically since you began pursuing your undergraduate music therapy degree?

Ihave grown in many ways since I started pursuing my education at the Woods, and I would say that I grew in all of the right ways. SMWC has been the most stable and safe placein my life. Because of this, I have been able to grow academically, emotionally, and as a woman overall. All of the challenges I had faced in my lifeprior to coming here seemed like an ever-present shadow. From the time I stepped foot on this campus,I knew that the shadow would disappear and that this was my time – my time to become a Woodsie. Although I still had many struggles through the end of my junior year, I have broken through these and become a better “me” through hard work and the support of this community. I have also grown through the love and friendship shared with my Woodsie friends; they are the best friends I have ever had in my life.

2) What role has the SMWC music therapy faculty played in this development?

Sharon Boyle (Associate Professor of Music Therapy and Coordinator of Undergraduate Music Therapy) has played many roles throughout my entire undergraduate journey. Besides being my professor, clinical supervisor and advisor, she hasbeen my strongest mentor at SMWC. She has been one of the few people in my life who has truly held me accountable for my work. She has consistently pushed meand inspired me to be a strong, professional woman. I will not say that I have always liked the constant accountability, but without it I wouldn't have made it as a student and future music therapist. She is a great woman, and I owe a great deal to her and her hard work.

3) A unique aspect of the SMWC music therapy programis its emphasis on clinical music improvisation. What role has improvisation played in your experience as a musician and clinician?

Improvisation has been an important aspect of my growth as a future music therapist, as well as in my non-therapeutic music making. Although I have used improvisation in many of my supervised music therapy sessions, I have mostly used it when making music with my peers for Open Mic Nights, my own music-making, and as a memberof a small band. As a musician, it has changed my perspective on structures within music. As a future clinician, it has changed my understanding of how to musically meet clients’ needs.

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Jena Jones grew up in LaPorte, Indiana. She studied flute in her time at The Woods, and was a member of Wind Ensemble, Chorale, and Music Therapy Club. An eternal optimist who always has a joke or smile to share, Jena also enjoys football and has worked various part-time jobs while obtaining her Bachelor’s degree. After completing her coursework in December, Jena will begin a music therapy internship at Opportunities for Positive Growth in Fishers, Indiana, where she will work with individuals with developmental disabilities under the supervision of an SMWC alumnus. Jena is also in the process of planning her wedding, and feels “blessed to be surrounded by so much happiness”.

1) Why did you choose music therapy and, specifically, the SMWC music therapy program?

Many times I tried to step away from music – it had felt more like a chore than a passion until I came to SMWC. I thought I had wanted to be a teacher, which then turned into a music educator; I wanted to help and work with people, but I had never been completely sure what career path was right for me until the moment I stepped onto the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College campus. I believe that everything happens for a reason, even things that cannot be explained. I realize now that sometimes you need to help yourself first to find what you’re seeking.

2) Has your perception of music as a therapeutic medium changed during your undergraduate study?

The Woods has opened my eyes to all the possibilities in the world. Through research, we know that music and other arts help children learn, express emotions creatively, and increases self-esteem. And it is not only children – music therapists know that music benefits everyone, therapists included. I carry with me the power of music as a therapeutic medium; it continually allows me to grow individually and as a clinician.

3) If you could give beginning music therapy students one piece of advice, what would it be?

Do not take your college experience for granted! Your experiences on the path you take make you who you are... I want to be a music therapist so I can spread my passion for music and show how it is an essential component of a complete life. My wish for you is that, when it is your turn to graduate and step into the “real world”, you be as passionate as I am about our profession.

*Cathleen Flynn, Music Therapy Student Assistant and junior music therapy major, completed this interview.

2011 AMTA National Conference

The SMWC Music Therapy faculty, along with many current students and alums from both the undergraduate, equivalency, and graduate programs, just returned from the 2011 American Music Therapy Association Conference in Atlanta, GA. This annual conference includes sessions, trainings/institutes, musical performances, lectures, and so much more.

SMWC Music Therapy Faculty News:
Dr. Tracy Richardson, MT-BC (Associate Professor and Director of Music Therapy) presided over meetings as the new president of the Great Lakes Region of AMTA, in addition to providing a voice as an Assembly Delegate (think of this group as the "Congress" of music therapy in the United States).

Sharon R. Boyle, M.M., MT-BC (Associate Professor and Coordinator of Undergraduate Music Therapy) co-presented with Dr. Jennifer Jones (Western Illinois University) about a parallel project they completed with their students in the spring about intentional and mindful self care. In addition, she presided for SMWC colleague Dr. Patricia McIntyre, who presented about the role of ethics in music therapy advocacy.

Highlights of the conference include Dr. Kenneth Bruscia's lecture as part of the Sears Lecture Series (see picture, courtesy of Debbie Bates, MMT, MT-BC), Jodi Picoult's video interview explaining her process of writing her recent novel "Sing You Home" (with a music therapist as main character), Dr. Connie Tomaino and clips from the recent movie "The Music Never Stopped" (based on Tomaino's work with a former patient), and the attendance of musician Ben Folds (most recently seen as judge of the t.v. show "Sing Off") to Saturday and Sunday of the conference.

Finally, this conference also brought SMWC the news that the American Music Therapy Association has officially approved our Music Therapy Equivalency Distance (MTED) program, which will commence in Fall 2012.  See our website for more information: http://www.smwc.edu/music-therapy-equivalency-distance-program/

The next national conference will be held in October 2012 in St. Charles, IL.