Kate Beever, music psychotherapist & owner, Maine Music & Health, LLC

Course Overview: This course explores the therapeutic uses of music within healthcare settings for clients of all ages. No musical experience is necessary to benefit from this short form course. Various healthcare populations are explored through readings, visits to community partners, and research. Music is experienced in group settings for a hands-on learning of ways to address cognitive, physical, social, and emotional goals through drumming, songwriting, lyric discussion, and movement to music. Ethical implications of community based therapeutic music programs are explored. Students will learn about the field of music therapy and the human interaction with music from a health perspective- physical, social, emotional, and cognitive health of all ages. Students will have opportunities outside of class to develop and assess collaborative projects that use music to help children and adults reach their optimal wellness.

Learning Goals: 

• Explore the relationship between music and the brain so that students have a clear understanding of why music is able to help with speech, movement, and expression.
• Describe the process to become a music therapist and the other options for using music in healthcare- sound therapy, music education, adaptive performance.
• Describe key terms, clinical and musical characteristics, and needs of clients with dementia, TBI, ID/DD, ASD, and general stress.
• Improvise effectively on a variety of musical instruments- percussion, voice, piano, strings (no musical experience necessary, these lessons will vary based on students’ ability levels)
• Participate in music groups to learn about group dynamics and facilitation.
• Evaluate the ethical implications involved in therapeutic music/adaptive music work.

Class schedule: Tuesday/Thursday 10-12 and 1-3, Wednesday/Friday 10-12

Instructor Bio

Kate Beever, MA, MT-BC, studied at the USM School of Music and then worked for Frank Glazer before earning her Master’s degree in Music Psychotherapy from New York University. She interned at Beth Israel Medical Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She returned to the fresh air of Maine to open Maine Music & Health, LLC. Maine Music & Health helps those with illnesses and disabilities reach their goals through the power of music. Kate’s business was the SBA’s 2017 Microenterprise of the Year and won $10,000 from Robert Herjavec in the INC Magazine and UPS Store’s Small Business Challenge in Los Angeles. MM&H has developed music & wellness programs with Maine Medical Center, York Hospital, the Dempsey Center, Boston College, the Portland and Bangor Symphony Orchestras, and worked with thousands of clients with medical needs.

Kate presents at conferences and facilitates group and individual sessions. She is also a trained REMO HealthRhythms facilitator and has her certification in Neurologic Music Therapy. Kate founded the Maine State Music Therapy Task Force, served as President of the USM Alumni Council and served on the APHA’s Noise & Health committee. She teaches part time in Boston at Berklee College of Music in the music therapy department. Kate keeps an active schedule performing as a percussionist, spending time with family, paddling, and advocating for environmental health.