A Survey of Guitar Course Offerings in Music Therapy Degree Programs

The purpose of this study was to investigate the availability and focus of the guitar course offerings provided in music therapy degree programs accredited by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA). Surveys were mailed to all 67 academic music therapy program directors listed in the AMTA Directory. Directors were asked to indicate the availability of guitar study, the focus of applied guitar, required guitar proficiency skills, and alternative guitar class offerings included in their programs. Directors were also asked to rate and compare the relative importance of guitar and piano study, in relation to clinical success. The response rate for the six-item questionnaire was 71%. Seventy-five percent of the survey respondents programs offered guitar as a principal instrument. The data indicated a hierarchy of guitar proficiency skills and respondents offered a variety of opinions concerning the undergraduate process, functional music skills, and clinical success.