Graduate Music Therapy Web Series 

Please register below and learn about the field of music therapy. These online events will help you get to know our faculty, course offerings and the Rebecca Center, our on campus music therapy clinic.
 

Web Series I:   Monday, February 3, 5pm-6pm

Music Psychotherapy and Clinical Improvisation: Foundational Ideas

Presenter:  Dr. Suzanne Sorel, DA, LCAT, MT-BC, Professor, Graduate Music Therapy Program 

In our first week of the Web Series 2025, we will define music psychotherapy and music-centered practice. We will begin to delve into some basics about creating music with and for clients, taking an opportunity to reconnect with the building blocks of music. We will explore how style, idiom, rhythm, and other musical elements are used to meet and reach our clients. 

A little bit about me: I'm happy to "kick off" the Molloy University Graduate Music Therapy web series! I am passionate about musicing, clinical improvisation, and fostering relationships that support health and ameliorate psychological, emotional, and physical challenges of all sorts. I am forever grateful for my clinical training at the Wassaic Developmental Center (in upstate NY) and the mentorship from Drs. Clive and Carol Robbins at the Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy at NYU, where I worked for 13 years. I have clinical experience with children and adults in school settings, day habilitation centers, and outpatient clinics such as The Rebecca Center for Music Therapy at Molloy and the Nordoff-Robbins Center. In my 33 years at Molloy University, I have learned so much about music therapy, education, and supervision. I continually strive to refine, explore, and build my scholarship and musicianship. I have authored Becoming a Music-Centered Therapist (Barcelona, 2022) and multiple book chapters in music therapy texts and musical compositions used in music therapy and education. I have also recently started a private practice, Sorel Creative Arts Therapy, PLLC.  At Molloy, we have a wonderful, diverse group of musician-learners. I strive to be a helpful guide and partner as they prepare for work with future clients. I'm excited to share musically and clinically with you!

Web Series II:  Tuesday, February 11, 5pm-6pm

An introduction to the Rebecca Center for Music Therapy At Molloy University: Origins, Clinical Practice, Training, and Research

Presenter: Dr. John Carpente, PhD, LCAT, MT-BC, NRMT, The Founder & Director of The Rebecca Center for Music Therapy

The Founder and Director of our on-campus clinic will share clinical examples and the ongoing research at the Rebecca Center here at Molloy University. The presenter will explore the basic tenets of creating music with and for clients and have an opportunity to reconnect with the elements and building blocks of music to explore how style, idiom, rhythm is used to meet and reach our clients. 

A little bit about me
I am a Professor of Music Therapy at Molloy University, Founder and Director of The Rebecca Center for Music Therapy, and owner of Developmental Music Health Services, LLC. A pioneer and leader in DIR®/Floortime™-based music therapy, my clinical and research focus is on individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders and their families, parent coaching, assessment, and supervision. I have been the USA site manager for the TIME-A international research study involving eight countries worldwide. It is the largest randomized controlled trial on clinical interventions for autism to date. I have authored several book chapters and articles on the topic of developmental relationship-based music therapy and autism spectrum disorders. I am the author of The Individual Music-Centered Assessment Profile for Neurodevelopmental Disorders (IMCAP-ND): A Clinical Manual. Also, I have presented and lectured my work internationally and domestically.

Web Series III:  Tuesday, February 25, 5pm-6pm

Sharing Our Stories: Clinical and Research Perspectives from Students & Alumni

Presenter: Elizabeth K. Schwartz, MA LCAT, MT-BC, Adjunct Instructor in Music Therapy

The presentation includes music experientials (vocal/rhythmic) as well as short video clips to illustrate different music therapy career settings.

A little bit about me: It’s such a great honor to be wrapping up this sampler course in music therapy by sharing how the education and training at Molloy gives students the foundation and resources to not only enter the field of music therapy but rise to become music therapy leaders. Over my years in music therapy, I’ve been privileged to be a clinician, supervisor, educator, researcher, composer, and author. My formative experiences were with music therapy pioneers Drs. Clive and Carol Robbins and my practice is reflective of their music-centered approach. Learning to truly ‘be in music’ with people is at the core of my over thirty years of work in early childhood and led to wonderful opportunities to share my thinking through books, book chapters, articles, and presentations.  I also have eclectic passions for other areas of music therapy practice including music therapy advocacy and government relations, verbal skills in music therapy practice, and the use of the voice in music therapy. Teaching at Molloy gives me the chance to support and encourage students and young professionals to find and share their own music therapy voice whether it is in clinical work, research, program development, advocacy, or academia.

Have Questions? 

Please feel free to reach out to Dr. Suzanne Sorel at ssorel@molloy.edu for any questions regarding the course content and the graduate music therapy program. Dr. Sorel is happy to set up a meeting with you to discuss your individual interests and provide more information. Please sign up for an appointment with this Calendly link.

If you have any questions regarding Admissions and the application process, please contact gradadmissions@molloy.edu.

We look forward to supporting your exploration within the Music Therapy field and seeing you at the web series!

Upcoming Graduate Music Therapy Web Series