Office of Special Education
Music Therapy

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

 

What is public school music therapy (MT) service?

What are the levels of MT service?

Which students are eligible for school MT services?

Who provides school MT services?

What is the difference between public school MT and private MT?

How can I find out more about school- based MT?

What MT resources are there?

 

What is public school music therapy (MT) service?

As a related service according to IDEA, MT service assists students to be functional participants in their educational environment.  Music therapists provide direct and consult services to a student when assessed to show that MT is needed to assist in gaining IEP progress.  Music therapy may include:

  • providing and modeling songs to teachers to help with specific IEP objectives

  • providing ideas to assist with MT relaxation techniques and those to assist with regulation and sensory needs

  • use of music and music activities to help a student achieve on their IEP

What are the levels of MT service?

  • Direct: provided directly as coded on their IEP to a student either individually or within a group when MT is shown to provide a unique assist and/or motivation in performing goal related behavior

  • Consult: quarterly meetings as coded on their IEP provided to school teams on behalf of a student

  • Resource teacher: MT ideas provided on an informal basis upon request to a teacher or parent when a student would not qualify for direct/consult services

Which students are eligible for MT services on their IEP?

  • Using the Pre-Assessment Guidelines, a teacher determines that a student is not making IEP progress and appears to demonstrate positive behaviors when music is in the class environment

  • Contact an MT to have them complete an informal pre-assessment observation to determine if the guidelines are met

  • If the MT determines that a student qualifies for an assessment, a team is held to give permission to assess. See Music Therapy Program and Assessments

  • A SEMTAP (Special Education Music Therapy Assessment Process) is completed by the music therapist within 60 days.  The test compares student responses on selected IEP objectives with both music and nonmusic interventions. The SEMTAP (1995), is used nationally by music therapists in public school systems.

Who provides school MT services?

Music Therapy services are provided by nationally Board Certified Music Therapists who are employed by BCPS.  The MT-BC status signifies that each has completed a degree or equivalency degree in music therapy from an approved American Music Therapy Association program, completed an intensive 6 month internship, have passed an MT Board Certification test, and continue to either retake the test or complete ongoing continuing education programs every 5 years.

Music therapists are part of the transdisciplinary team who use music therapy interventions to assist with IEP objectives provided by other team members for a student.

 

What is the difference between public school MT and private MT?

School MT services must prove to be required for a student to benefit and make progress in their educational programs when determined by assessment results using the SEMTAP.  Private MT can address other areas of a disability that do not interfere with education and qualification is not based on SEMTAP assessment results.

 

How can I find out more about school based MT?

If your child attends a Baltimore County Public School:

Contact your child’s teacher or IEP chairperson assigned to your child’s school.

 

What MT resources are there?

 

Products to assist with typical IEP objectives

  • www.westmusic.com books, music, cd’s, instruments.  They have a music therapist on staff who can assist with recommendations for specific products based upon your need.

  • www.spectrumconnections.com A DVD series featuring a preschool music therapist leading sessions on various topics with real life students though songs and activities with corresponding real life film footage.

  • www.time2sing.org CD’s of music performed at a slower tempo to assist with speech.

  • www.rivannamusic.com CD’s by a music therapist that assist with speech, academic skills, and social skills.  Includes award winning “My Turn, Your Turn” with free downloadable Boardmaker lyrics.

  • www.expresstrain.org a variety of CD’s using music to assist with speech and language development through imitation.

  • www.reiinstitute.com a music medicine research company with CD’s of background music to assist with focus, attention, and to produce a calmer affect.

  • Piggyback songs

  • MT PowerPoint presentation

 

Gabby Ritter-Cantesanu, MMT, MT-BC

NW, SW, Central

nrittercantesanu@bcps.org

410-887-3660

 

Kari Roy, MT-BC

NE, SE, Central

kroy2@bcps.org

410-887-3660