Master in Music Therapy

Music as a therapeutic tool in health and education. Barcelona,
September 2012- June 2014

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Presentation

INTER-UNIVERSITY MASTERS

IDEC-Pompeu Fabra University
Blanquerna-Ramon Llull University

IDEC-Pompeu Fabra University, in partnership with the Blanquerna Faculty of Psychology, Education Sciences and Sport of the Ramon Llull University , are offering a new edition of the Masters in Music Therapy.

The programme aims to train specialist music therapists so that they can work in a wide range of situations in both education and healthcare. Our philosophy is based on the premise that the music therapist is a person and a professional with a strong connection to music; someone who is committed to using it for healing purposes, to help people who have special requirements and/or who need special support. The knowledge gained by students on this master should leave them prepared and professionally competent, while also maximising personal growth. This is a university degree and therefore aims to provide future specialists with the knowledge and theoretical and practical competencies necessary for professional practice, as well as the methodological rigour and spirit of constant perfectionism that will help them to further develop this profession, whether in practice or in research.

This Master's degree is supported by the collaboration and participation of several highly experienced music therapy teachers who are currently active in clinical practice. For this edition, the structure of the classes will follow the new European EHEA model as well as EMTC (European Music Therapy Confederation) directives on the training of professional music therapists. The goal is for students to use a combination of different skills: taking in information through theory-based classes, learning technical skills through practical experience, and undergoing personal introspection through "self-experience", and reflection on appropriate attitudes and behaviours for adapting to the needs and demands of each situation. We believe in and defend the importance of addressing the human dimension , both in terms of the type of problems treated and because of the human element that must be present in any therapeutic activity. For this reason, the Master's is a two-year degree and the way it is structured allows for students to receive considerable personal attention. However, the timetable is designed to allow students to combine their studies with other activities.

Objectives

The objectives of the Master's in Music Therapy are to:

Ensure that the student acquires knowledge of scientific theory related to Music Therapy and its various areas of application.
Train the student in the use and mastery of music therapy techniques adapted to various areas of application.
Teach the student analytical and thinking skills, so that they examine and question the reality of actual experience.
Promote the values of flexibility, active listening, empathy and constant self-improvement, so that they can become leaders in the development of this profession, both in practice and in research.

The music therapist must be trained to care for people (be they children, young people, adults or the elderly) who have some kind of need. Their areas of work include Education, Mental Health, Medicine and Geriatrics. In all of these, the music therapist requires three areas of professional competence: musical, clinical and music therapy.

The musical competencies include : mastery of accompanying instruments, singing, improvisation, conducting, composition, orchestration, a wide repertoire and knowledge of a broad range of musical genres, and musical teaching methods that can be adapted to the participants' different levels.

The clinical competencies include : empathy; observational skills; knowledge of support and psychotherapeutic methods for specific groups; knowledge of the various conditions present in different areas of music therapy; evaluation, design and planning of treatment; communication and teamwork.

The music therapy competencies include : knowledge of the psychology of music; an understanding of the basic theories of music therapy; familiarisation with different methodologies; knowledge of scientific writing on the subject and a mastery of music therapy techniques for specific groups and situations.

Potential candidates

The course is mainly designed for people working in the fields of education, health and/or music: teachers (pre-school, primary, secondary, special needs and music teaching), speech therapists, physiotherapists, nurses, community workers, psychologists, educationalists, school counsellors, doctors and qualified musicians.