Basic Clinical Musicianship (Level 1)
Overview
This is the first of two parts of a home study course in the philosophy and practicum of the clinical science and art of healthcare music. The program is a self-paced and accredited home study course for singers and instrumentalists who play acoustic stringed instruments, woodwinds, flutes, and/or portable keyboard instruments and who wish to become practitioners of clinical music.
Level 1 provides an introduction to clinical music concepts in preparation for the initiation of a hospital/hospice internship. Musicians of all skill levels are welcome to study Level 1. By the time you complete Level 1, you will need to demonstrate your ability to play the basic therapeutic music styles in a smooth and flowing manner, in addition to satisfactorily completing the final exam. Successful completion of Level 1 qualifies you to register for Level 2 and begin a 45-hour bedside internship. Successful completion of Level 2 requirements allows you to use the title, “Certified Clinical Musician (CCM)”.
No travel is required. The tuition includes seven hours of mentoring by email and phone or in person for those who wish to travel.
Course Objectives
- To qualify as a Clinical Music Intern (CMI)
- To gain an understanding of the practice of therapeutic music, its applications and how it differs from performance music
- To gain a broad understanding of the philosophies and science of healthcare music
- To gain an understanding of practices and protocols of healthcare facilities that affect you as a clinical musician
- To gain an understanding of the basic therapeutic music repertoire styles
- To develop a base and varied repertoire that can be used for the internship
- To develop and demonstrate the ability to play clinical repertoire styles in an appropriate, relaxed and flowing manner
- To gain an understanding of how to match your music to each patient’s needs and how to determine the effectiveness of the music
- To develop confidence in one’s ability and expertise
- To develop compassion
- To develop a deeper awareness of one’s own gifts and how to use them
- To prepare for hospital and hospice internship
Detailed Course Requirements
Required Reading:
- Textbooks (provided in course materials):
- Basic Clinical Musicianship – Laurie Riley
- Body, Mind and Music – Laurie Riley
- The Healing Musician – Stella Benson
- One collection of therapeutic music repertoire
- The Healing Power of Sound, Recovery from Life-Threatening Illness Using Sound, Voice, and Music – Mitchell L. Gaynor, M.D.
- Therapeutic Harp: Ancient Legacy, Sound Science, Clinical Applications – Sarajane and Ted Williams, a 3-DVD documentary
- Subscription to the Harp Therapy Journal
- Two other books of your choice relating to therapeutic music
Final Completion Requirements
- Final exam – written and recorded responses
- Book reports on required reading*
- One half hour recording demonstrating your understanding of the therapeutic music styles, your skill level and your repertoire. The recording includes the following clinical music styles that are introduced in the course:
- Pulse tempo music – music for emergency, ICU, and post-operative patients
- Non-tempo music – music for the dying
- Variety of moods and styles – music for general-care patients
- Familiar – music for the elderly
- Familiar – music for children
- Photo of student with instrument
- Resume
* Detailed instructions regarding book report and recording requirements will be provided with your course materials upon registration.
Topics included in the course curriculum
- History of Therapeutic Music
- Terminology, Principles, and Concepts of Therapeutic Music
- Modern Applications of Therapeutic Music
- Service vs. Performance
- Clinical Vocabulary
- Basic Music Structures
- Music as a Language
- Therapeutic Repertoire Styles
- Modifying Your Own Repertoire for the Bedside
- Introduction to Improvisation
- Modes and Their Uses
- Introduction to Resonance
- Introduction to Palliative Care
- Introduction to Bodymind Studies and Psychoneuroimmunology
- Ethics
- Clinical Attire, Security and Codes
- Infection Control
- Introduction to Internship
- Ergonomics
- Complementary Health Care Modalities
Tuition: $575
