Master of Creative Music Therapy
Master of Creative Music Therapy
UAC Code
952980 Semester 1
952980 Semester 2
Study Mode
2 years part-time
Penrith campus
Tell me about this course
The Master of Creative Music Therapy is a
two-year, part-time degree, offered in
partnership with Nordoff-Robbins Music
Therapy Australia (NRMTA). Much of the
course is conducted from Australia’s only
purpose-built facility, the Golden Stave
Music Therapy Centre, on the Penrith
campus of the University of Western
Sydney at Kingswood.
The course offers an intensive program of
musical, therapeutic, and academic
studies with an emphasis on clinical
musicianship and supervised clinical work.
With this practical, ‘hands on’ focus,
students work at the Golden Stave Centre
and external music therapy programs,
under the professional supervision of
registered music therapists.
The course guides students in developing
an awareness and understanding of music
and how to use it therapeutically through
improvising, composing and arranging to
meet the needs of individuals and groups.
You will also study the history and
professional development of music
therapy, including the various
methodologies and theoretical constructs
that form the basis of clinical work being
carried out in more than 40 countries
world wide. The focus is on a deep, formal
understanding of clinical and human
issues that confront clinicians working in
the community, as well as ethical and
professional responsibilities.
Music therapy is both a science and an art.
As a profession, music therapy calls for a
unique combination of creative skill and an
empathic personality.
Through the training students will develop
an insight into their own psychological
make-up, their own needs and areas of
vulnerability.
Professional Accreditation
The Master of Creative Music Therapy is
accredited with the Australian Music
Therapy Association Inc (AMTA). On
satisfactory completion of the course
graduates are eligible for registration with
the AMTA.
AMTA is the professional accrediting body
for all music therapy courses in Australia
and grants registration status (RMT) to
graduates.
http://www.austmta.org.au/
What is Nordoff-Robbins Music
Therapy Australia?
Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia
Ltd was founded in 1984 to promote and
develop the understanding, training and
practice of creative music therapy. The
organisation takes its name from
composer Paul Nordoff and special
educator Clive Robbins who first
developed the creative music therapy
approach. This approach focuses on
awakening an inborn musicality in every
client in order to develop his or her full
potential as a human being. It is an
interactive and participatory form of
therapy where the music acts as the agent
for change and healing.
Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia
Ltd (NRMTA) was incorporated in 1997
and is part of a network of
Nordoff-Robbins centres and training
programs throughout the world including
England, Scotland, USA, Germany and
South Africa.
www.nordoff-robbins.com.au
What are the entry requirements?
The course is open to applicants who
have either a:
» Relevant Bachelor’s degree or
recognised overseas equivalent; or a
» Recognised relevant overseas
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent and a
high level of understanding of English
to IELTS score 6.5 if you are an
international applicant.
A high standard of practical musicianship
is required. It is preferred that you have
the skills equivalent to 8th grade AMEB
on your first instrument and at least
5th grade on the piano (if this is not the
first instrument).
A pre-enrolment audition and interview is
critical to the selection process. Auditions
are designed to give candidates an
opportunity to demonstrate their music
skills and communicative ability. During the
interview candidates will be asked to talk
about their reasons for wishing to
undertake the training and the experiences
that have led them to applying.
What will I be studying?
To qualify for the degree of Master of
Creative Music Therapy students must
complete eight units, equivalent to 80
credit points. Four units are offered each
year on a rotational basis.
1st year
Semester 1
Music Therapy Skills 1
Music Therapy Method
Semester 2
Music Therapy Theory and Practice 1
Creative Music Therapy Practicum 1
2nd year
Semester 1
Music Therapy Skills 2
Music Therapy Professional Practice
Semester 2
Music Therapy Theory and Practice 2
Creative Music Therapy Practicum 2
Unit Descriptions
Music Therapy Skills 1
Through a combination of music therapy
skills and practicum, the unit opens up an
exploration of improvisation, instrumental
playing, repertoire, song writing, voice
work and composition as techniques for
music therapy. Videos of case studies are
played to illustrate this work. The
practicum introduces students to the
practice of music therapy through
observing and working with a Registered
Music Therapist (RMT).
Music Therapy Method
Music Therapy Method provides a
background to the historical development
and theoretical underpinnings of music
therapy worldwide. The Constitution and
Code of Ethics of the AMTA are outlined
alongside government legislation and
social attitudes that impinge on the
delivery of music therapy to the
community. Normal human development
through the lifespan is looked at in depth
paralleled with studies on developmental
disabilities and other disorders. Culture,
gender, race, religion and socio-economics
are examined within the context of
understanding the place of music therapy
in society.
Music Therapy Theory and Practice 1
This unit has two modules. One places
greater emphasis on skill mastery and the
ability of students to draw on concurrent
practicum work for musical material
relating to work with adult clients with
diverse needs in different clinical situations.
Students will engage with reflective writing
on their work with clients. In the second
module, contemporary psychological
theories are examined in depth as well as
the relationship of music therapy to other
arts therapies. Students receive an
introduction to psychotherapy, music
psychology, and the foundations of
research including literature review.
Creative Music Therapy Practicum 1
In this unit the creative music therapy
practicum work is expanded to a complete
unit to reflect greater emphasis on clinical
practice within the course and the
increased expectations on students to
apply coursework to music therapy
practice. Clinical work is undertaken with
adults with disabilities under the supervision
of a Registered Music Therapist.
Music Therapy Skills 2
Through music therapy skill development
and music therapy practicum, this unit
engages students with the study of
improvisation, instrumental playing,
repertoire, song writing, voice work and
composition illustrated with advanced case
material. In the practicum, students
engage in clinical work under the
supervision of a Registered Music
Therapist. Work is undertaken with
children and/or adolescents with a trained
clinician or student colleague.
Music Therapy Professional Practice
This unit consists of two modules. One
provides students with professional skills in
academic, clinical and report writing plus
professional presentation skills. In the
second module students are introduced to
receptive methods of music therapy as
well as being given a background to
clinical research in preparation for the in-
depth studies in semester 4.
Music Therapy Theory and Practice 2
The unit continues the development of
skills and the ability of students to draw on
concurrent work with adult clients in
different clinical settings including
psychiatry, palliative care, and aged care.
Relevant research methods are further
examined.
Creative Music Therapy Practicum 2
In this unit, students provide music therapy
for adults in aged care or in a psychiatric
setting. A student may now work alone
but will receive in-depth supervision from
a Registered Music Therapist. Students
are expected to work effectively and
independently within a
multidisciplinary team.
Meet the lecturers
Dr Alan Lem
Dr Alan Lem, holds a B.A. in Musicology,
a Graduate Diploma in Music Therapy, a
Master’s degree in Music Therapy and a
PhD in Music Therapy. Since his first
registration with the Australian Music
Therapy Association Alan has been
actively involved in research, teaching and
clinical supervision. In 1998 Alan
commenced regular work as a casual
lecturer in music therapy at UWS, and in
2000 at the Golden Stave Music Therapy
Centre, where in 2003 he also became a
research consultant. Alan’s ongoing
commitment to research in music therapy
is reflected in his postgraduate
dissertations, publications and conference
presentations. His key publications appear
in MusicMedicine 3 and the Journal of the
Australian Music Therapy Association.
In 2005 Alan returned to Australia from
Europe to take up the position of Lecturer
in Music Therapy at UWS. He focuses on
the curriculum needs of the growing
number of Master of Creative Music
Therapy students as well as developing a
research profile of the Golden Stave Music
Therapy Centre.
Mr Robin Howat
Robin Howat RMT, trained in London in
1977/78 and subsequently took on the
position of Head of Training at the Nordoff-
Robbins Centre in London. During this
time he frequently worked with Clive
Robbins. He moved to Australia in the
1990s to be Director of Training for
Nordoff-Robbins in Australia. He is
currently Senior Music Therapist for
Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia
based at the Golden Stave Music Therapy
Centre. A prolific musician with extensive
experience in music and clinical
improvisation, Robin Howat was
instrumental to the development of both
the Centre and the Master of Creative
Music Therapy, and remains passionate
about music therapy generally and creative
music therapy specifically. He now
balances his time between clinical work,
teaching and supervision. As a teacher
Robin is renowned for the guidance he
provides students through the rewarding
process of becoming a skilled music
therapist. He has also been an active
member of the Australian Music Therapy
Association (AMTA).
Graduate Profile
“My first encounter with music therapy
was teaching children with special needs
in London, who were attending the
Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Centre.
As a primary teacher with a bachelor in
music performance, music therapy
instantly appealed to the parts of me that
loved working with special children and
using my music in some way other than
for myself. After attending the Centre in
London for some introductory courses in
music therapy and improvisation I realised
the intuitive fluid approach to music lying
at the heart of the Creative Music Therapy
philosophy was the path I would take
upon returning to Australia.
“I was told at the beginning of the course
by a graduate that the next two years
would be as much of a journey into myself
as an exploration of music and she was
right! What she didn’t say was that this
never stops – throughout our training we
were encouraged to seek the inner
potential and sometimes hidden musicality
in our clients and thus my approach to
all people I deal with in life has
changed forever.
“I had to practise the skill of improvisation
on the keyboard through the process of
‘unlearning’ and ‘relearning’ everything I
had ever been taught as a classically
trained musician. The course challenged
and broadened my musicality, expanding
my awareness of the infinite and subtle
resources that lie within the musical
medium that we work with. What I didn’t
expect was how much we use the voice
as a primary instrument in therapy.
Although not a trained singer, the course
really developed my vocal skills and further
unlocked my capacity for communication
through music.
“Graduating with a Masters degree places
me abreast with current music therapy
graduates from universities around
Australia. I am now working as a
Registered Music Therapist at The
Children’s Hospital at Westmead, a special
school and as a member of a team of
therapists at the Golden Stave Music
Therapy Centre. The course has equipped
me with the creative resources to work
with oncology patients and their families,
children with profound physical and
intellectual difficulties and their teachers,
as well as adults with a variety of special
needs. The Creative Music Therapy
Course has opened doors for me I never
knew existed and brought me into contact
with amazing clients from whom I
continue to learn.”
Jenny Whalan – Graduate
Master of Creative Music Therapy
Research Degrees in Music Therapy
UWS offers academic supervision,
extensive research support and access to
clinical facilities for those interested in
music therapy research leading to the
degrees of Master of Arts (Honours),
Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of
Creative Arts. For further information
please contact Dr Alan Lem at the Golden
Stave Music Therapy Centre.
How do I apply?
Applications should be made through the
Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). For
further information see UAC Postgraduate
website: http://www.uac.edu.au/
postgraduate.html

Postgraduate Coursework Booklets,

complete with application forms, will be
available free of charge from UAC and the
UWS Course Information Centre, freecall
1800-897-669.

Prospective students are encouraged to

visit the Golden Stave Music Therapy
Centre at UWS where much of the course
work takes place. For further information
or to discuss any aspect of the course,
please contact Dr Alan Lem, Lecturer in
Music Therapy.

Who do I contact for course advice?

Dr Alan Lem
Golden Stave Music Therapy Centre
email: a.lem@uws.edu.au
Ph: 02 4736 0240

The University of Western Sydney reserves the

right at all times to withdraw or vary courses
listed within this publication. In the event that
the course is to be changed, or in the event
that the course is to be withdrawn, applicants
will be advised by mail to the address specified
by them on their application.

CRICOS provider code: 00917K

University of Western Sydney
Locked Bag 1797
Penrith South DC NSW 1797 Australia
www.uws.edu.au

Course Information Centre

1800 897 669
study@uws.edu.au