Drury University is known for its community, beautiful campus and a variety of majors. In total, Drury offers around 50 majors and 22 broader fields of study.

A frequent major of students at DU is music therapy. This raises the question–what is music therapy, and why is it so popular at Drury?

The reason music therapy is such a common major here is because Drury is only one of three schools in the state which even offers it as a degree.

According to the Drury University website, 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”.

Music Therapy major and psychology minor Hailey Payne is extremely involved with her major even outside of classes. Payne is currently serving as President of the Student Music Therapy Association (SMTA’s). This organization is devoted to bringing awareness to what their profession is while giving students and peers the opportunity for hands-on experiences.

When asked what music therapy is, Payne responded, “Music Therapy is using music to address physical, emotional, spiritual, and social goals. Music is one of the only mediums that can globally affect the brain, which means it is a very powerful tool involved in the human experience. Because of this, music obtains many healing abilities and acts as a common ground for most individuals.”

Another member of SMTA and the music therapy program is third-year student Aubrey Bauman. Bauman is currently serving as President-Elect on SMTA’s executive council. President-Elect has multiple roles, one of which is learning from the current President (Payne) so Bauman can transition smoothly into President for the next academic year.

In an interview, Bauman discussed a few insights on her time at Drury University. “Being a music therapy major is not easy, as it is practically a double major in music and psychology. As a music major, you have to take theory, music history, participate in various ensembles, take private lessons, attend various concerts, perform in front of your peers, and be proficient in multiple instruments. Not only do we take music classes, but we also take Human Physiology, various psychology classes, foreign language classes, research classes, and some science classes.”

Another member of SMTA’s executive council is a senior music therapy major and psychology minor, Gab Barton. Barton is currently serving as Treasurer and is also holding the position of Secretary in the Midwestern Region of the American Music Therapy Association Students (MWRAMTAS).

Barton is in the final stages of her music therapy program and summarized what her plans are in the upcoming semester and beyond. She stated, “After I finish my coursework this Spring, I will begin my internship at St. Louis Forensic Treatment Center North. After I complete my internship, I will graduate in December of 2021 and take the music therapy board exam. My goal is to be a practicing music therapist in the St. Louis or Memphis area. I am not picky about which population I would like to work with, but I have the most experience with adults of varying abilities, hospice patients, and adolescents with a history of substance use.”

Many people may ask the question, how does music therapy benefit me? Hannah Gross, a junior music-therapy major and assistant at the Center for Music Therapy and Wellness on Drury’s campus, explains how music therapy can be beneficial.

“Music therapy can benefit people of all ages and backgrounds with all types of disabilities and illnesses including, but not limited to children with behavioral disabilities, recovering drug and alcohol addicts, older adults with Alzheimer’s and dementia, children and young adults in detention centers, and patients of all ages with clinically diagnosed mental illnesses. Through music therapy, these clients can find a healthy way to cope with their disability and/or illness as well as find positive ways to improve their quality of life.”

Gross’s boss, the clinical director of the Center for Music Therapy and Wellness, and an employee at the CMTW as a board-certified music therapist is Abigail Loyd. Loyd graduated from Drury University in 2019 with a music therapy major and a psychology minor.

Loyd, when asked how music therapy was beneficial responded that “Music therapists provide therapeutic experiences through a non-threatening, engaging medium – music! Most people at some level enjoy music, and board-certified music therapists are trained to use this fact to help people strengthen goal areas in their lives through music. For example, a music therapist can help newborn babies gain weight, teach a child to self-regulate, help train an individual with Parkinson’s to walk to a steady beat, or reminisce with older adults about memories – all by using music! Music therapists can benefit anyone that has a goal they would like to achieve. We are trained to help others meet their goals by transforming the therapeutic process into a musical intervention that addresses the targeted goal area. This musical element makes the therapy experience engaging and encourages work toward the therapeutic goal. The music itself has a variety of physiological effects on the body as well. It works to decrease heart rate and blood pressure, increases oxygen to the brain, and releases chemicals such as dopamine.”

One final question remains: why do individuals choose this career path? Sophomore Irelynn Holst, who is a music therapy and psychology double major with minors in business & entrepreneurship and theatre, explained why she chose this path. “I decided to go into the field of music therapy because I have always wanted to help others, and I have always had a great love for music. I originally wanted to go into psychology, but I knew I would miss working with music every day. When I found out about music therapy, it seemed to be the perfect mix of helping others and not losing the musical part of my life that I cherish so much.”

If anyone still has questions or wants to gain more information about music therapy as a major and profession feel free to look on the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) website.

Abigail Loyd personally invites anyone to the virtual concert premiere on the Center for Music Therapy and Wellness Facebook page on Sunday, May 9^th at 2:00 PM. Or feel free to reach out to Payne, Bauman, Barton, Gross, Loyd, and Holst. All are extremely passionate about music therapy and would love to share their enthusiasm and spread advocacy for a profession they adore.