E-Book of Articles - World Federation of Music Therapy

Wheeler, Barbara: WMFT Proceedings of the Education Symposium
together following the State Registration bill being passed in the House of
Lords in 1998. They agreed standards and criteria generally and also
specifically to each profession. This was a rigorous and useful exercise, and
resulted in the publication of the JVC (Joint Validation Committee)
Handbook, 58 upon which this presentation is based.
JVC Handbook
This was prepared for Higher Education institutions, employers,
funding bodies, and relevant healthcare organisations. It is used for joint
validation of courses at government level, which is now a legal requirement,
in addition to internal validation by universities. As mentioned above, it
incorporates previous music therapy competencies and basic training
documents. These are now summarised below.
Guidelines on Course Structure and Content
Level: All courses must be Post Graduate Diploma level or above
Duration: Courses must be for at least one academic year full-time
(or equivalent part-time). This is following at least 3 years music
degree or equivalent.
An academic year is 1000 hrs. or 30 taught weeks
General Course Delivery Requirements
There must be written, oral and group-work, as well as research and
clinical
elements.
- A high proportion of course work must be experiential in nature
- Practical/clinical elements must be integrated with
academic/theoretical parts.
- Time must be allowed for independent study
Entry Requirements
- Relevant arts degree or equivalent
Demonstration of arts accomplishment and understanding of
academic basis of the relevant art form (music, art or drama
depending upon which arts therapy training is undertaken)
Demonstration of personal maturity, commitment, suitability
(normally applicants will be at least 23 years old)
Relevant field experience and employability
58 Arts Therapies Board JVC Handbook. Obtainable from The Arts Therapies Board CPSM; Park
House, 184 Kennington Park Road; London SE11 4BU.
312