music therapy student

Music Therapy

“I cannot say enough great things about Powers Music School. Over the past 10 years, my special needs daughter has had the honor of participating in the music therapy program. Every teacher has been very impressive in their ability to bring out the best in Michaela and hone her skills as a singer. Her vocal capabilities have skyrocketed as a result.”

– Elise Moore, parent of music therapy student

 

We know not all students fit the traditional teaching methods of private lessons, so if you’re searching for a music program with the “right fit,” we might be able to help. Our Music Therapy program works with those unique students to build a nurturing, flexible, and judgment-free learning environment with specially trained teachers to help meet your musical goals and adapt to your particular needs and level of functioning.

Think of our department as a range of options. On one end, we can use music as a therapeutic tool to help you work towards a personal goal you’re struggling with (commonly known as “music therapy”). On the other end, we can help you pursue your passion for music in a supportive, adaptive setting that helps, rather than hinders, progress (we call these “modified lessons”). Some of our students do both, or even shift between the two, depending on the day! Anything is possible here.

Who is a good candidate for modified lessons or music therapy?

Our friendly, board-certified, music therapists can help children, teens, or adults with any of the following:

  • developmental disabilities like autism or ADHD
  • cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome
  • at-risk youth
  • language delays
  • IEPs (Individualized Education Plans)
  • individuals struggling with identity
  • veterans, first responders, or others struggling with traumatic stress disorders
  • traumatic brain injuries
  • emotional-regulation disorders
  • sensory integration disorders
  • addiction recovery
  • Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and other aging-related disorders
  • Hearing and visual impairments
  • other complex medical issues

We can also opt for in-home services on a case-by-case basis if you have a physical disability and are unable to come to Powers.

What will the year be like?

Every student and every lesson is different! After your phone consultation and trial with our department chair, Krystal, she can help you decide whether “traditional” music therapy interventions, modified lessons, or a combination of approaches will be the best route.

Some things we might work on are playing percussion, voice lessons, piano, guitar, or ukulele instruction, song-writing, or simply listening to pop, hip-hop, rock, classical, or other kinds of music on an iPad or electronic device.

In all cases, our program helps each student increase self-confidence, self-expression, independence, and the ability to adapt to new situations. Music therapy and modified lessons can improve daily living, coping, and choice-making skills, attention span and memory, fine motor skills and physical development, language and communication, socialization and relationships with family and friends, or simply provide a mood boost!

At the end of the year, students have the chance to showcase their hard work and talent at a recital for their family and peers, just like they’d do in traditional music lessons. Both students and caretakers will notice how much they’ve progressed on the path towards their personal and musical goals, and ultimately, towards discovering their self-worth.

Want to talk to someone or give it a try?

We’ll arrange for a phone call with our Music Therapy Department Chair and a $75 trial lesson. First, click here to tell us more about yourself:

Inquire about music therapy lessons

Lesson information and tuition

What does it mean to be “board-certified”?

Our music therapists are trained in areas like psychology, child development, music therapy practices, and a wide range of diagnoses. This enables them to pull from many different methods and adapt the program specifically to each student’s learning style and level. They must have completed a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in music therapy, a 1,040 hour clinical internship, and passed the board certification exam maintained by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT). They must also recertify every five years by completing 100 continuing education credits overseen by the CBMT.