music therapy

Music Therapy is a well-established professional health discipline that uses music as the therapeutic stimulus to achieve non-musical treatment goals. In special education and settings serving persons with special needs, music therapists utilize music as an educational related service to promote learning and skill acquisition.

Music Therapy is considered a related service under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IDEA 2004 states in Sec. 300.34, related services are those as are required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education. As a related service, music therapy is deemed necessary when the child needs the service in order to make progress in their special education program. If the student is not making progress towards their goals in the instruction setting and the student receives a significant motivation and/or assist from music therapy interventions, then it can be said that there is an educational need for music therapy. Services are not provided solely because the student enjoys music, or solely because he or she has a disability. Music therapy is also not provided as a substitute for attending general music education classes or to fulfill the fine arts requirement of a student’s IEP.

Music Therapists use music within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of students. After assessing the strengths of each student, music therapists provide treatment such as creating, singing, moving to, and/or listening to music. Interventions can be provided through direct services or through consultation.

Music Therapy applies the inherent order of music to set behavioral expectations, provide reassurance, and maintain structure for children with special needs. Involvement in music therapy can stimulate attention and increase motivation to participate more fully in other aspects of the educational setting. Music therapy can also provide avenues of communication for students who find it difficult to express themselves in words. Music Therapists can also support special education classroom teachers by providing effective ways to incorporate music into their academic curriculum.

Professional Requirements for MTs

All of FWISD's Music Therapists have a bachelor's degree in music therapy from a university approved by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) and have completed 1200 hours of clinical training at an approved internship site. Each therapist passed a national board certification exam, which is required to obtain the credential MT-BC (Music Therapist-Board Certified) granted by the Certification Board for Music Therapists. FWISD's Music Therapists adhere to the AMTA Standards of Clinical Practice and the Music Therapists' Code of Ethics.