Music Therapy - MA

University of the West of England, Bristol

Postgraduate

In Bristol

£ 4,667 + VAT

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Description

  • Type

    Postgraduate

  • Location

    Bristol

  • Start date

    Different dates available

This unique three-year part-time Master's course can lead to registration as a music therapist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). It also provides a popular route for international students looking to develop their qualifications.
It is open to capable musicians - from recent graduates to experienced professionals, or to music therapists with a postgraduate diploma looking to add to their skills and knowledge who can access a progression route. Even if you don't have a first degree in music, we still encourage you to apply provided you can demonstrate a capacity to write and think at Master's level. All candidates will need an intuitive and communicative musical presence on at least one instrument or voice, plus the ability to provide harmonic support using, for example, piano, keyboard or guitar.
Widely applicable and sought-after skills
There is an underlying humanistic and music-centred philosophy to the course, with a strong emphasis on experiential learning. We take a 'lifespan' approach, focusing on children and adolescents in the first year, and adults in the second year. In the third year, we focus on more complex areas of work, with both children and adults, such as work in palliative care or the prison and probation services.
The course equips you with the clinical, theoretical and practical skills required to enter the music therapy profession. Successful graduates will be able to work in the NHS, education, social services, for the voluntary sector, charities, within prisons, or set up their own practice.
The part-time, flexible nature of the course means you can fit Master's level studies around paid employment, and build or enhance your career in the process.
Course tutors, and teaching and research staff from across the department have excellent links with healthcare, community and education providers, and we regularly welcome visiting lecturers from these areas.
Watch: The learning and teaching experience

Facilities

Location

Start date

Bristol (Avon)
See map
Coldharbour Lane, BS16 1QY

Start date

Different dates availableEnrolment now open

About this course

Professional accreditation
This course is accredited by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), while the British Association for Music Therapy (BAMT) provides a useful professional link. The BAMT is the professional body for music therapists and a source of information, support and involvement for the general public.
Study facilities
The course runs largely from and at the Glenside Campus, where there is a self-contained space for music-making and other facilities for small group teaching and supervision, plus excellent library facilities including the music therapy...

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Subjects

  • Music
  • Music Therapy
  • Teaching
  • Part Time
  • Therapist
  • Musical
  • IT for adults
  • Learning Teaching
  • Access

Course programme

Content

Personal development runs throughout the course, and you must be prepared to undertake what may sometimes be challenging and rigorous explorations of your professional and personal issues and influences - excellent preparation for a music therapist. During the course, we ask you to be in confidential personal therapy with a suitably qualified therapist, for example, a creative arts therapist, a counsellor or psychotherapist. The number of hours is not specified, but the Health Professions Council requires you to have had substantive and sustained experience of personal therapy during the three years of the course (40 to 60 hours is recommended). Please note, this cost is not included in the programme fee.

There is also a counselling component within the professional practice modules. You will experience a music therapy training group facilitated by external music therapists. You will need to set aside regular time, beyond personal therapy and attending taught sessions, for reflection and study.

All course modules are compulsory:

Year 1

  • Music Therapy Professional Practice with Children and Young People - This incorporates a placement within a child setting, and seminars to develop related musical and clinical skills.
  • Music Therapy Theory and Child Development - Taught seminars and online lectures cover theory, research and case material relating to child work in music therapy.

Year 2

  • Music Therapy Professional Practice and Skills with Adults - This incorporates a placement within an adult setting, and seminars extending related musical and clinical skills.
  • Music Therapy Theory and Practice in Adult Settings - Face-to-face seminars and online lectures covering theory, research and case material relating to child work in music therapy.
  • Qualitative and Quantitative Methods - This inter-professional module comprises face-to-face seminars and online lectures on qualitative and quantitative research methods.

Year 3

  • Music Therapy Advanced Professional Practice - You'll secure a placement, and under expert supervision, extend your entrepreneurial, musical and clinical skills.
  • Dissertation in Psychology - Design and implement a research project in music therapy.

The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved we will inform you.

Learning and Teaching

Teaching is based on lectures and seminars, small group practical sessions and individual tutorials. There is a strong experiential basis to the course, which is led by a team of experienced music therapists and complemented by visiting specialists from a range of related professions.

The course is highly flexible and attracts a diverse demographic, with musicians from many backgrounds - this allows for valuable peer-learning opportunities.

For more details see our glossary of teaching and learning terms.

Study time

Three years, part-time:

We run an induction programme during mid-September, before the start of Year 1.

Years 1 and 2

If you are studying on the part-time MA you'll need to set aside a minimum of 2.5 days a week to complete the course. In the first two years you'll spend one day a week at UWE Bristol, with a further day on placement between November and May. Placements are arranged, wherever possible, close to your home. At least half a day of personal study a week is required. UWE Bristol days are currently Tuesdays for year 1, and Mondays for years 2 and 3.

Year 3

During the final year, you attend the campus less regularly roughly every three weeks.Throughout the year, we provide remote supervision of your research to allow weekly clinical supervision of advanced practice.

Assessment

We assess your work and progress through written essays, practice portfolios and viva presentations each year, and also one research exam, a microanalysis, a music practical and a research portfolio.

You will need to submit all written work electronically and have access to the internet. You will also need your own recording equipment for use on placement.

For more details see our full glossary of assessment terms.

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Music Therapy - MA

£ 4,667 + VAT

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