Music Therapy & Music Education

The Maryland School for the Blind (MSB) offers both music therapy and music education classes.  Music therapy focuses on musical activities that are designed to promote specific cognitive, motor, perceptual, communication, and behavioral goals. Music education teaches musical skills with an emphasis on developing performance abilities. Students can participate in both programs, as they are complementary to one another. 

Music Therapy

Music is not just an activity.  Music is a tool used to facilitate changes in communication, decision making, social behavior, motor skills, personal management, career education, community skills, recreation and leisure skills, and cognitive skills. The role of music as therapy at MSB utilizes music to bring about therapeutic changes in the students. 

For many students, music therapy is an integral part of their programming. Students can receive group or individual music therapy.  The music therapist will consult with classroom staff to formulate group goals and objectives.  These areas can include communication, motor, social, emotional, and  independent living skills.  Students are introduced to a variety of instruments and musical styles during group music therapy. 

Sessions are structured to provide predictability and comfort for our students.  Social songs are used to facilitate everyday communication. Emphasis is placed on interaction with peers in a fun learning environment.

Music Therapy Internship

The music therapy program at The Maryland School for the Blind has been training interns in the field of multiple sensory impairments since 2000.  The internship offers a unique opportunity to work in a specialized field while gaining skills that can be applied to a vast population.  In addition to working in a traditional special education setting, interns also have the opportunity to utilize music therapy with the Deafblind population.  Because our goal is to promote independence through the creative arts, music technology is a key aspect of our programming and will be a part of the intern’s training/education.  At the current time, we are able to offer 2 music therapy internship placements.  The internship begins on the 1st of November and continues until the following June, observing all holidays and breaks in the school calendar.  We hope that the information provided will aid you in choosing the right placement for your needs.  Should you have any questions regarding the internship program, please feel free to contact the clinical training director @ 410.444.5000 ext. 1266

For more information on the Music Therapy Internship and how to apply click on the documents below:

Music Therapy Internship Application

Fact Sheet

Philosophy of the Music Therapy Program

Biography of Clinical Training Director

Music Education

Music is a unique and essential part of the human experience.  Educating children in the fine arts, especially music helps them to connect with abstract ideas which are usually inaccessible through other media.  By grade 12, most of our students will be able to:

-Perform music alone and with others.

-Read and write or listen, repeat and indicate the musical notation.
-Analyze, describe, and evaluate musical performances.

-Create original music with specific guidelines.

-Understand the relationship between music and the other fine arts, history, and culture.

For more information about Music Education, contact:
Nancy Lindsay, Music Teacher
410.444.5000 ext. 1250    nancyl@mdschblind.org