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Passing the Music Therapy Board Exam: The Music Therapy Intern’s Declassified Survival Guide, Part 3
Published on: Apr 17, 2019|| 13 comments
Heart and Harmony Music Therapy
Heart and Harmony is a team of therapists who are committed to providing high-quality music therapy services to the DFW community.
What is music therapy?
“Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.” (AMTA, 2010).
Hello, I graduated with my Master Degree 22 years ago and have carried C MT. This I last year and I have to get board certified or I not longer be certified. I have been out of M.T field for about 9 years and would like to practice again with my Board certification. How can I prepare for the guitar questions? I used mostly keyboard for my practice. I have never been a really guitar just enough to get me through school
Hi Kim! I’m so excited you’re working towards recertification! I found it most helpful to review the fingerings of basic guitar block chords in standard tuning, and to review alternate tunings like open tuning and Richard’s tuning. There’s no skills or playing portion of the exam, it’s all based on your theoretical knowledge.
Thanks for responding. What s fingering to basic chords to do do with it. What is Richard tuning.
Hey Kim! It’s not permitted to share the exact test questions, but I will say that it’s within the CBMT domains to proficient with guitar chords, and so it’s possible you might be tested on your knowledge of chords and fingerings on the exam. Richard’s tuning is an adapted tuning method that can be used with various populations. I found a bunch of good resources on Google, and I believe AMTA offers a book on Richard’s tuning in their bookstore as well.
Hi I failed the exam by 11 points yesterday. It was a pretty painful experience in the sense that I kept reading the questions over and over to understand what it was asking me. I did not do the self-examination on computer because I had a book from some years ago. I’m wondering if you think that would be more helpful than the suffix essman from the book some years ago. Also I feel like I totally bombed the guitar chords I studied some old self examination questions and it did not help me. Maybe I need to actually be playing the guitar. Just looking at pictures of chords I didn’t find helpful for the exam. I will take the exam again next month. Do you have any further suggestions.
I have take this test 5 times and my scores continue to go down. Is there any resource available to teach me how to correctly read the questions.?
Hi Kathy! I’m sorry that you’ve had difficulty with the test. Have you tried contacting CBMT directly about potential resources? That would be my suggestion. I wish you the best as you continue to pursue MT-BC status.
Thank you so much for this blog! I’m finishing up my internship this week and now prepping for my exam. Thank you for all the tips! Looking forward to becoming board certified!!
Hey Rebekah, so glad you found the post helpful! A huge congratulations on finishing your internship and good luck on the board certification exam – you’re gonna do great! 🙂
Hello, thank you for your blog. I tried to pass the exam 3 times, I continue to work as MT under LCAT back in NYC, now 5 years later I am thinking to do this again since I moved to CA.
Is there an online course or tutoring group you know about who take on students to prepare for the test?
I studied at NUY for MT, hade post master advanced trainigns – but THIS TEST is something I need constructive help with. I am willing to pay for the classes, please point me in the right direction if you know
Hi Nastassiya!This Facebook group is a great free resource, and there are people who offer online one-on-one and group tutoring for the exam. Use caution when searching for paid tutoring for this exam. CBMT does not endorse any study groups or resources other than the practice exams on their site, and there’s no guarantee that anyone offering that kind of tutoring has any special kind of knowledge or resources. If you’re not already on the Music Therapists Unite Facebook page, you may try searching there for tutoring or online courses. Best of luck!
Thank you for your blog!!!
It is really helpful for me !!!! xD
Thanks Ella, we’re so glad it’s helpful!