School Information

Music & Dance N101 Alexander, 734.487.4380 

Christopher Barrick, DMA, Director

Advisor Information

Debra Gombert, PhD, 314 Alexander, 734.487.0292

Program Admission

Students must satisfy admission requirements of the University, the School of Music and Dance and the Music Therapy Program. Please note that an audition is not required unless students want to take applied music lessons on their principal instrument while completing this certificate. Applied music may be required in secondary instruments to prepare the student to pass the EMU Music Therapy Competencies. Students must be admitted into the music therapy post-baccalaureate certificate program before enrolling in required course work. Requirements for admission into this certificate program include the following:

1. Submission of the completed application, nonrefundable application fee and all official undergraduate and graduate transcripts to undergraduate admissions in the Office of Admissions.
2. The earned equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree in music from an accredited college or University.
3. Submission of a 3-page double-spaced essay on the topic of “Why I wish to pursue a degree in music therapy.” Include personal perspectives and motivations as well as current understanding of the field of music therapy and how you see yourself within the field. All essays are to be saved as a Word (.doc or .docx) document and sent as an attachment to Dr. Theresa Merrill, Director of Music Therapy at tmerril1@emich.edu.
4. A personal interview with the coordinator of music therapy is required. This interview will explore the applicant’s (1) interest in and general knowledge of music therapy, (2) music skills and (3) personal potential for being a successful music therapist.
5. Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency.

Certificate Requirements: 31–43 hours

• The Post-Baccalaureate Music Therapy Equivalency Certificate Program must consist of all music therapy courses required for the bachelor of music therapy degree.
• Courses in the sciences and in other areas to meet the American Music Therapy Association’s educational standards are required.
• Students must successfully demonstrate the EMU music therapy competencies in guitar, piano and voice before being eligible to enter the required clinical training (internship). Copies of the criteria for the competencies can be obtained from the coordinator of music therapy.
• A specific program of study will be developed by the coordinator of music therapy, in consultation with the student, once the student is admitted into the equivalency certificate program
• The number of required hours for the certificate depend upon the student’s undergraduate degree.

Concert and Recital Attendance Graduation Requirement

Each student must attend a specified number of recitals/concerts (events) to earn their degree, as described below.

Bachelor of Music Performance - 80 events (10 per semester for 8 semesters). For students who transferred to EMU, 10 per semester while studying at EMU.

All other music degrees - 72 events (9 per semester for 8 semesters). For students who transferred to EMU, 9 per semester while studying at EMU.

Procedure:

Please see the School of Music & Dance for applicable events (website).

• Students are strongly encouraged to attend the indicated number of events per semester for their major. Students will receive credit for no more than 30 events per academic year.
• Music Education and Music Therapy students should complete this requirement before student teaching or internship (exceptions approved by the School Director).
• Students must attend an entire event to receive credit. Students who participate in more than 50% of an event as a performer may not count that event towards the attendance requirement.

EMU Events -

• When available, please pick up an attendance card from a faculty greeter before the event start and return it to the faculty member after the event. The faculty member will initial your card and submit it to the Music & Dance office.
• For events without a faculty greeter, a program signed by any faculty member after the event is also acceptable. Be sure that both your name and student number are listed on the program and submit it to the Music & Dance office within 14 days of the event.

Non-EMU Events -

• Submit your ticket stub (for ticketed events) or program (for non-ticketed events) to the Music & Dance office within 14 days of the event. Your applied teacher must sign programs before submitting them (Students not currently enrolled in applied music may have their program signed by any faculty member). Be sure that both your name and EID are listed on the ticket stub or program.

Checking your concert and recital attendance credits:

You may check the number of events for which you have been credited on the School of Music & Dance website (emich.edu/music-dance/music/current-students/recital-credit). Enter your EID., click submit, and your personalized report of recital credits to date will be displayed on your screen.

When you are ready to graduate and your final audit is being completed, your advisor will approve your Concert and Recital Attendance requirement, and your U-achieve audit will reflect that this requirement has been met.

What to do if you still have questions about this policy? Contact the School Director or your faculty advisor.