MHTP

Required Curriculum

MHTP strongly recommends that students begin study with Module 1, and take all Modules in order. Occasionally students may enter at Modules 2, 3, or 4, at the discretion of the Registrar. Modules 1 through 4 must be completed before taking Module 5. Students should bring instruments, music stands, and sheet music as needed to each class and should be prepared to sing or play at least four selections from their repertoire. Students must attend the entire class to receive credit. They should not plan to arrive late or leave early for any module. If this is unavoidable, they should consider taking the module in a different area or waiting until it is offered another time.
MODULE 1:
	REPERTOIRE DEVELOPMENT AND SHARING: Different styles, keys, modes and moods of music elicit varying responses in patients. The music practitioner must be able to choose appropriate music for specific patients and observe its effects. Additionally, students must be flexible enough to change the music according to a patient's immediate needs. Instruction, discussion, demonstration, and practice for matching the four repertoire categories to the four patient categories will be included. Students are expected to participate fully.
	INJURY PREVENTION FOR THE MUSIC PRACTITIONER Because the prolonged playing of musical instruments can lead to chronic physical discomfort and injury, this class is designed to educate the player in the pitfalls of poor postural, technical, and stressful uses of an instrument. Included are explanation, demonstration and experiential learning of neutral posture and relaxed techniques to prevent potential problems. Vocalists will be addressed in terms of posture and stress-free tonal production. Bring your instrument.
MODULE 2:
	MUSIC AS A LANGUAGE Students will learn the language of music as it applies to being a Certified Music Practitioner, while delving into music theory, improvisation, composition, memorization, and experiential playing. When the “moving” language of music is fundamentally understood, appropriate uses of music may be applied to meet the immediate need of a patient. By breaking down the elements of music and realizing each element’s power, students learn to appreciate the simplicity of this work as a Certified Music Practitioner. Students learn that music is a human birthright which naturally elicits responses in the human body.
MODULE 3:
	PARADIGMS OF HEALING This class is an exploration of the scope of practice, methods, and attitudes of both alternative/complementary and conventional medical practices that CMPs are likely to encounter as they interact with their patients. Students will understand how practice as a therapeutic musician fits into the wide spectrum of the healing arts, and the unique contribution CMPs make in the conventional medical setting.
	HOW MUSIC HEALS This class is the exploration and experience of the basic physics of sound and music, its effect upon the human body, and multi-cultural approaches to the use of music for healing the human being. Students will learn the uses of music as a healing art through the ages, review the basic elements of music, and how these elements can be used for healing body, mind, spirit and soul. Students will learn how to understand and how to find current music research to form a logical and persuasive justification for this work. With this background, the student can confidently approach the community to provide service as a CMP.
MODULE 4:
	ETIQUETTE AND INTERNSHIP The focus of this class is how to plan and begin your internship, how to do patient assessment, and an overview of clinical protocol and expectations of the practitioner by caregivers, patients and their loved ones. The class will include role-playing by all students at the bedside with instruments and debriefing afterwards. Students will explore the "rules of conduct" in clinical situations in which music practitioners will be playing live music at the bedside. Key methods for introduction and maintaining a therapeutic session will be taught. The answer to "How do you know what to play first" is addressed.
	PROFESSION OF MUSIC PRACTITIONER In this class the student will learn where the music practitioner fits into the healthcare community and the hierarchy of other clinicians and healthcare workers. The student will understand what defines a music practitioner, and how to go about beginning one's own practice. Students will learn how to take care of the practical aspects of our work: setting your fees, creating networks, approaching institutions, presentations, getting the word out, and more. Everyone is expected to participate in role-playing.
MODULE 5:
	Note: Modules 1 through 4 must be completed before taking Module 5.
	ALTERATIONS IN HEALTH This class is an introduction to major diseases and injuries, symptoms, and treatments, as well as commonly used medications and how they affect the body, mind, behavior, and awareness of a patient. This knowledge helps the CMP understand a patient's response to therapeutic music. It also helps with the selection of repertoire for that patient, and is directly related to the Repertoire Development class.
	CARE OF THE DYING This class explores palliative care issues, including expectations of the dying, survivors, and medical staff. An important part of this class is discussion of the issues students might have with care of the dying. This includes grief, signs and symptoms of approaching death, gifts the dying may bring, and coping with stress, loss, and death. Students will learn about hospital policies, advanced care directives (e.g., living wills), Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders, ethics, legal documents, insurance issues, patient privileges, and issues for healthcare choices. This will help the CMP understand end-of-life choices made by patients and their families. Appropriate musical repertoire will be reviewed.
	CLINICAL PRACTICUM This is an introduction to and experience of clinical work in a nursing home, hospice, or hospital. Students will be oriented to clinical work in a healthcare facility and will sing or play for patients under the supervision of their instructor, Area Coordinator, and/or an experienced CMP. There will be opportunities for post-clinical discussion and evaluation.
Course titles, schedules, hours, and tuition's are subject to occasional updating.
Please Note: The Music for Healing and Transition Program does not lead to a degree in Music Therapy. Our graduates may not call themselves Music Therapists, Harp Therapists, or any other title used by programs from which they have not graduated. Our graduates are called Music Practitioners.