Music Therapy Quiz-Out Sequence

As part of the clinical practicum sequence, students will participate in a series of music therapy quiz-outs. The intent of quiz-outs is for the student music therapist to demonstrate skills in singing, accompanying, and essential leadership qualities. The Clinic Supervision Team (CST) will evaluate student music therapist’s progress as a review panel. Detailed information is available in the Music Therapy Quiz-out Sequence document on the MEMT website under Documents and Forms.

These occur as follows:

• Group Leadership Skills Quiz-Out: To be taken at the end of MEMT 196
• Pre-Practicum Quiz-Out: To be taken at the end of MEMT 296
• Practicum Quiz-Out: To be taken at the end of Level 1 Clinical Practicum
• Internship Comprehensive Exam: To be taken at the end of Level 3 Clinical Practicum

Group Leadership Quiz-Out

To be completed prior to entering the Clinical Techniques Class.

Preparation

Prior to the Quiz-Out, schedule a time with the Clinical Supervision Team for the end of the semester. Sign-up sheets will be posted on the Program Director’s door. The music therapy undergraduate student is responsible to schedule and pass this quiz-out before entering MEMT 251 class. The music therapy graduate equivalency student is responsible to schedule and pass this quiz-out at the end the first semester of academic coursework.

Singing:

1. The music therapy student will select 5 songs suitable with one each for early childhood, elementary-aged, adolescents, adults, and elderly. One should be familiar, one should be unfamiliar, and one should be a round.
2. Prepare a song sheet of the lyrics to these 5 songs for the Clinic Supervision Team. This list should include the student’s name and the title “Group Leadership Quiz-Out” and the date of the quiz-out. Please use as little paper as possible.
3. The music therapy student should practice and memorize one verse and the chorus for each of these 5 songs.

Implementation

During the Quiz-Out, the music therapy student will:

1. Introduce themselves with an appropriate speaking voice.
2. State the title of one song. (The first song is to be chosen by the student and sung alone.)
3. Find the accurate starting pitch.
4. Give a “Ready Sing” cue and physically cue the CST to begin singing. Be aware that the CST will not sing but will be listening to the process instead.
5. Student will teach one unfamiliar song. CST will participate.
6. Student will lead one round. CST will participate.
7. Provide appropriate facial expression and physical proximity to the group.
8. Scan the group continuously while making eye contact with each individual member of the Clinical Supervision Team.

The music therapy student will be evaluated on:

1. Clarity of speaking voice.
2. Effective eye contact with the group.
3. Appropriate physical proximity and facial expression.
4. Accurate starting cues.
5. Correct singing intonation.

Pre Practicum Quiz-Out

To be completed prior to entering the first practicum placement.

Preparation

Prior to the Quiz-Out, schedule a time with the Clinical Supervision Team for the end of the semester. Sign-up sheets will be posted on the Program Director’s door. The music therapy student is responsible for scheduling and passing this quiz-out before they begin the Level 1 MEMT 396 practicum.

Singing:

1. The music therapy student will select 10 well-known songs that would be appropriate for a diverse range of clients. Each song must contain at least three different chords.
2. The music therapy student will prepare 5 copies of this list of songs to be distributed to the Clinical Supervision Team. This list should include the student’s name and the title “Level 1 Quiz-Out”.
3. The music therapy student should practice and memorize one verse and the chorus for each of these 10 songs. Each song will be accompanied on a portable instrument. A “portable instrument” is defined as a pitched instrument that can be used for accompaniment while the music therapy student is leading group singing. Examples that are appropriate for this Quiz-Out include: guitar, electric keyboard, ukulele or piano (in lieu of portable electric keyboard).

Vocal Imitation:

1. The music therapy student will be asked to vocally imitate a 2-measure melodic phrase. These phrases will be in a major tonality and will be in duple, triple, or quadruple meter.

Implementation

During the Quiz-Out, the music therapy student will:

1. Introduce themselves.
2. State the title of the song. (The first song is to be chosen by the student and sung alone.)
3. Find the accurate starting pitch.
4. Give a “Reading Sing” cue and physically cue the CST to begin singing.
5. Sing and play the song from memory.
6. Provide appropriate facial expression.
7. Scan the group continuously while making eye contact with individual members of the Clinical Supervision Team.
8. Provide musical closure through either appropriate chord resolution or tempo ritard. The music therapy student will be asked to sing other songs from the provided list.

Practicum Quiz-Out

Music therapy students must be proficient on two portable instruments, guitar and piano/keyboard, prior to entering Level 2 Practicum. A third instrument such as autoharp, accordion, or ukulele may also be used if preapproval is granted. Students should know basic chords in several keys, a variety of strum and rhythm patterns, and a basic song repertoire suitable for: children, adolescents, adults, and older adults. The repertoire should show a representation of therapeutic appropriateness for a variety of populations.

Preparation

Prior to the Quiz-Out, schedule a time with the Clinical Supervision Team for the end of the semester. Sign-up sheets will be posted on the Program Director’s door. The music therapy student is responsible for scheduling and passing this quiz-out before they begin the Level 2 MEMT 396 practicum.

Singing:

1. The music therapy student will select 40 songs that would be appropriate for clients within the four categories of: children, adolescents, adults, and older adults. The 40 songs should be equally distributed among the four categories. Happy Birthday must be included on the list. These songs need not be memorized.
2. One of the 40 songs must be an original composition written by the music therapy student. Both the melody and lyrics need to be original, no piggybacking of original lyrics onto an already existing melody. This song does not need to be notated; it is to be performed only.
3. The music therapy student should be prepared to play each song choice in the keys of C, D, E, G, and A major or keys of e, a, and d minor. The student should be prepared to transpose each of the 40 songs to any other of the required keys in the appropriate tonality. Songs in minor keys must be included on the list.
4. The music therapy student should be prepared to play using different strumming patterns on the guitar and different accompaniment patterns on the piano.
5. The music therapy student must be able to explain the reason for using each song with a particular client group citing an observable, measurable objective and how this song could be used in an application to address this objective. S/he must also be able to suggest which songs on the list may be able to be used with other client groups and why.
6. The music therapy student should practice one verse and the chorus for each of these 40 songs. Each song will be accompanied on a portable instrument. At least two different instruments need to be used during the quiz-out.
7. The music therapy student will prepare 3 copies of this list of songs to be distributed to the Clinical Supervision Team. This list should include the student’s name, the date of the quiz-out and the title “Practicum Quiz-Out”. Beside each of the 40 songs, state the key in which the music therapy student will initially play and sing the song. For each song, the music therapy student should indicate which accompaniment instrument will be used. A potential observable, measurable objective for each song should be included on this document.

Functional Accompaniment:

• At the Quiz-Out, the music therapy student will be asked to create an accompaniment to an unfamiliar melody. A member of the Clinical Supervision Team will sing a song that may be unfamiliar to the music therapy student. The student must find the key and play along on the portable instrument while the examiner sings the melody a subsequent time. The student should be able to use at least the chords I, IV, and V7.

Implementation

During the Quiz-Out, the music therapy student will:

1. Introduce themselves.
2. State the title of the song. (The first song is to be chosen by the student and sung alone.)
3. Find the accurate starting pitch. Play an appropriate introduction.
4. Give a “Ready Sing” cue and physically cue the CST to begin singing.
5. Sing and play the song.
6. Provide appropriate facial expression.
7. Scan the group while making eye contact with individual members of the Clinical Supervision Team. Although the song material is not required to be memorized, a certain level of appropriate eye contact is still assumed.
8. Provide musical closure through either appropriate chord resolution or tempo ritard.
9. Explain why an individual song was chosen for a particular client group.
10. Be prepared to discuss an additional population for which the song would be appropriate and how it might be used.
11. Transpose the song if requested to do so.

Internship Comprehensive Examination

Students in Level 3 of the practicum sequence (MEMT 396) will sign up for their Internship Comprehensive Exam prior to entering Level 4 practicum.

Preparation

1. Prepare a 20 minute music therapy session suitable for a population in which you anticipate interning.
2. Use both piano and guitar in your session, memorize all material.
3. Bring a copy of your resume.
4. Plan on professional dress.
5. Mentally prepare yourself for questions in the following areas:
   • a. therapeutic intervention in your chosen site
   • b. yourself as a therapist, strengths and weaknesses
   • c. music therapy in general
   • d. your past practicum experiences
   • e. goals for your practicum
   • f. etc.

Comprehensive Exam

1. Introduce yourself and present resume.
2. Lead a simulated session with Clinic Team functioning as clients.
3. Interview with Clinic Team and faculty.
4. Introduce yourself and present resume.
5. Lead a simulated session with CST functioning as clients.
6. Interview with CST and faculty.