Clinical Training Field Experiences

For Music Therapy majors

Music Therapy Seminar/Colloquium

A seminar class is held once weekly for all students enrolled in MUSC 3331, 3332, 3333, 3334. During this hour, students will receive instruction, model clinical interventions, practice functional music skills, participate in clinical presentations given by students and professionals, and discuss issues and concerns encountered during their clinical field experiences.

Professional Conduct

“The Code of Ethics of the American Music Therapy Association, Inc., summarizes our values as professionals and describes principles and standards for guiding the practice of music therapy in a responsible, fair, and accountable manner. [The] Code of Ethics is applicable to all those holding the MT-BC credential, and professional membership in the American Music Therapy Association. [The] Code is also applicable to music therapy students and interns under clinical supervision.” – AMTA Code of Ethics, 2019

Music therapy students are expected to demonstrate these key qualities: reliability, courtesy, cooperation, emotional stability, and openness to supervision. Music therapy faculty members and supervisors will assess these throughout the program based on your performance and interactions in class, fieldwork, and other program-related settings.

ID Badges

Students will be required to obtain an identification badge that identifies them as a USU Music Therapy Student. This badge can be obtained at the USU card office and should be worn whenever you are at your practicum site. There is minimal fee for this card and a selection of lanyards will be available for purchase if you desire.

Clinical Instrument Resources

A modest selection of musical instruments is available for use in clinical settings/sessions. Guidelines for checking out and returning instruments are posted in the Music Therapy Lab (FAC 219). It should be noted that professional behaviors related to the care and maintenance of instruments are addressed within the AMTA Competencies (4.4). Tardiness in returning instruments may affect the student's grade.

Students may request a prox card for access to FAC 219 after registering for MUSC 2310 and agreeing to the terms of the Lab Contract. Students will be notified when prox cards are ready to be picked up at the Facilities' Key Office. There is a $5.00 charge for prox cards.

Clinical Field Experiences

The Clinical Field Experiences (FEs) provide practical experience for Music Therapy students. These practicum courses include FE 1 (MUSC 3331, 1 credit), FE 2 (MUSC 3332, 2 credits), FE 3 (MUSC 3333, 3 credits), FE 4 (MUSC 3334, 3 credits), for a total of nine (9) credits.

Practicum Course Fees

There is a fee of $464 for each of the practicum courses (MUSC 3331, 3332, 3333, 3334). These fees support MT-BC supervision for your music therapy sessions.

Practicum Course Pre-Internship Clinical Hours

39.0 hours

The American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) requires 180 pre-clinical hours for the undergraduate student throughout their academic program. Each semester of practica is designed to provide the student with 39 pre-clinical hours. The remaining hours are accrued through other practica experiences and direct-client experientials within required coursework. Obviously, if a student is absent from a scheduled field experience, or the weekly seminar class, pre-clinical hours are not earned. It becomes the responsibility of the student to either ‘make-up’ these hours by scheduling additional sessions, observing other music therapy sessions, attending off-campus client functions, or completing any specialized pre-approved training relative to a clinical population (i.e., Domestic Violence Training, Hospice Volunteer Training). It is the responsibility of the student to document the acquisition of additional pre-clinical internship hours on the Clinical Hours Tracking Form to be submitted each semester.

The breakdown of the 39 pre-internship clinical hours earned each semester is as follows:

Seminar class time = 15 pre-clinical internship hours
12 sessions/supervisions = 24 pre-clinical internship hours

Practicum Course Objectives

To continue to develop and demonstrate music therapy procedures and activities e.g. functional music skills, composing and arranging skills, performance skills, improvisational skills, conducting skills and movement skills. (Music Foundations, Section A)
To continue to develop and demonstrate basic knowledge and understanding of client populations, therapeutic principles and applications, and the therapeutic relationship. (Clinical Foundations, Section B)
To become familiar with and apply current assessment procedures. (Client Assessment, Section 11)
To establish therapeutic goals and objectives; to select, create, plan, and sequence music therapy treatment sessions to meet client needs. (Treatment Planning: Section 12)
To provide music therapy experiences to facilitate effective therapy. (Therapy Implementation, Section 13)
To evaluate the outcome of clinical intervention. (Therapy Evaluation, Section 14)
To provide accurate, thorough, and professional documentation of client(s), treatment strategies/intervention and therapeutic outcomes. (Documentation, Section 15)
To develop plans for termination of music therapy services. (Termination/Discharge Planning, Section 16)
To continue to develop professional standards of personal conduct and clinical practice consistent with AMTA Professional Code of Ethics and Standards of Clinical Practice. (Professional Role/Ethics, Section 17)
To develop skills in collaborating and working with other members of an interdisciplinary team. (Interprofessional Collaboration, Section 18)
To participate in and benefit from supervision and feedback with professionals and peers. (Supervision and Administration, Section 19)
To demonstrate knowledge and interpretation in music therapy research and its practical application. (Research Methods, Section 20)

Practicum Course Grading

The course grade for MUSC 3331, 3332, 3333, 3334 is determined by the grade from the student’s supervisor (67%) and the grade earned from practicum assignments (33%). All Music Therapy majors must earn a grade of B (83%) or better.