Modified Requirements Track
DESCRIPTION OF THE CLINICAL MUSICIAN CERTIFICATION PROGRAM (CMCP)
MODIFIED REQUIREMENTS TRACK
Musicians with extensive background, experience, or training in therapeutic music may qualify for a Modified Requirements Track for completion of the Clinical Musician Certification Program (CMCP) and certification as a Certified Clinical Musician (CCM). A musician must satisfy all the requirements and parameters established in the CMCP materials in order to be certified.
Advanced musical training does not typically prepare a musician to play at the bedside. CMCP teaches a specific type of therapeutic music (slow beat, low pitch, relaxation/supportive atmosphere, improvisation, flexibility) that may or may not be the same as a musician who has developed his/her own style of therapeutic music. Highly trained musicians and musicians with prior experience playing in care centers and hospitals will all benefit from the depth of the CMCP training materials, but the musician must be willing to work within the CMCP guidelines in order to be awarded CCM status, including recommendations for tempos, tonal quality, musical styles, repertoire, appropriate instruments, and similar standards.
Application for the Modified Requirements Track does not guarantee acceptance. All prerequisites must be satisfied and music skills must be adequately demonstrated in recordings submitted with the application for the Modified Requirements Track and must meet the parameters established by CMCP for therapeutic music. Once admitted into the Modified Requirements Track, students are required to satisfy all the written and reading material requirements for both Levels 1 and 2. The application fee is not refundable. Potential students who apply for MRT, but then do not qualify may request admission to the standard CMCP track without having to pay an additional application fee.
To apply for the Modified Requirements Track, you must submit the following items to the Harp for Healing home office for approval:
- A completed CMCP Modified Requirements Track Prerequisite Checklist
- Application fee of $100
- Cover letter stating your reasons for pursing the Modified Requirements Track
- Completed Application form (below)
- Five recordings demonstrating how you would play for each of the following patient categories listed here. Each recording should have two to four songs with improvisation and must be a continuous recording (not several recordings pasted together) with smooth improvised transitions (called segues) between songs. The five recordings are for these five situations—four bedside and one public. Each recording must be 10 minutes of continual music recorded in one sitting. You will need to demonstrate an awareness of appropriate tempo and complexity for each situation, as well as an appropriate response to reactions to the music from patients or listeners.
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Recording #1--Patient Category: Children--10 minutes of continual music, at least 2 songs
Demonstrate rhythmic, familiar, and melodic music with smooth segues and some improvisation, 70-80 beats per minute
Recording #2-- Patient Category: Elderly--10 minutes of continual music, at least 2 songs
Demonstrate rhythmic, familiar, unfamiliar, and melodic music with smooth segues and some improvisation, 60 beats per minute
Recording #3-- Patient Category: General care--10 minutes of continual music, at least 2 songs
Demonstrate rhythmic and non-rhythmic, familiar, unfamiliar, and non-melodic music with smooth segues and some improvisation, 60-80 beats per minute
Recording #4-- Patient Category: End of life/pain relief--10 minutes of continual music
Demonstrate non-rhythmic, non-melodic, unfamiliar, and improvised music with smooth segues
Recording #5—Public lobby area—10 minutes of continual music using at least 3 songs from different categories of your PMME repertoire list.
Demonstrate repertoire diversity at an appropriate tempo, complexity, and volume for a public area.
6. You must include a written narrative with each recording, describing what you imagine is the condition of the people present, their reactions to the music, and how you modified the music to respond to those reactions.
- A summary of your experience, including an estimated number of hours and number of sessions played at bedside
- A recommendation from at least one facility where you have provided music at the bedside
- A current resume specifying education and experience related to therapeutic music and/or healthcare
Applicants for the Modified Requirements Track must have an understanding of non-rhythmic, non-melodic, and improvisational music techniques. Non-rhythmic music is music without a discernible pulse, rhythm, or beat. Non-melodic music does not have a recognizable melody or repeating melodic patterns. A student who is unfamiliar with improvisation, non-rhythmic, or non-melodic music styles does not qualify for the Modified Requirements Track.
Recorded music samples need to be played at a tempo between 60 to 80 beats per minute, with the majority being at 60 beats per minute.
An applicant for the Modified Requirements Track must have a minimum of 45 hours of actual bedside playing experience and at least 100 sessions of bedside playing experience.
It is expected that an applicant who qualifies for the Modified Requirements Track has appropriate and adequate music skills and clinical experience, as demonstrated in the listed pre-requisites, and will work through the course with minimal support from a mentor. Personal therapeutic music coaching sessions are available if desired. Contact the home office for the cost of personal coaching.
Tuition for the Modified Requirements Track is $800. Upon payment of the tuition, those who qualify for the Modified Requirements Track will receive the course notebooks for both Level 1 and Level 2, and access to the login portion of the Harp for Healing website, private CMCP Facebook page, Google discussion groups, online book studies and roundtables.
To apply for the Modified Requirements Track, follow these steps:
1. Download the Prerequisite checklist
2. Complete the online application
4. Submit all completed materials in one submission either electronically to HarpforHealing@gmail.com or by mail to: Harp for Healing, LLC; 920 4th Avenue; Havre, Montana 59501
Your submission will be evaluated and you will be notified when the evaluation is complete. Please note that the $100 application fee is non-refundable and separate from the tuition. Applicants who do not qualify for MRT may request admission to the standard CMCP track without having to pay an additional application fee.
Questions regarding the CMCP Modified Requirements track should be directed to the home office at HarpforHealing@gmail.com.