Entry requirements

Academic requirements

• A bachelor’s degree from a recognised local or international institution.
• A minimum of IELTS Academic 7.0 / TOEFL iBT 100 / PTE Academic 65 for applicants from countries where English is not the first language or whose qualifications are obtained from institutions where English is not the medium of instruction.

Music requirements
Proficiency in at least one principal musical instrument. Functional skills in guitar and piano/keyboard (if neither are principal instruments).

Statement of Purpose
Submit an essay in 500–650 words highlighting your reasons for applying to this programme and how they relate to your future professional plans. Please provide a description of your music background, and music identity, e.g. impact of music in your life, important pieces of music related to significant life events (if any). In addition, please illustrate why you feel you could use music to help people i.e. what is your motivation to help? You should also include a brief description of your research intention/interest(s) that you are keen to explore. You are required to submit this online.

Reference letter
Provide two reference letters to support your application. You are required to upload your reference letters online during your application.

Audition
An audition will be required for all shortlisted applicants as part of the selection process. You will need to prepare the following for audition:

• Two pieces played/sung in contrasting styles on your principal musical instrument/voice. Principal musical instruments may include, but limited to: i) Western classical instruments e.g. piano, violin, flute, harp etc., ii) digital/ electronic instruments e.g. electric guitar, electric bass etc. and iii) ethnic instruments e.g. erhu, sitara, harmonium, gamelan etc.
• Sing one song (any genre) self-accompanied on piano/ keyboard.
• Sing one song (any genre) self-accompanied on guitar.
• Sight-read/sing a simple three-chord song provided by the interviewer, you are to self-accompany with an appropriate accompanying instrument of your choice.
• Transpose the above simple song into any keys as requested by the interviewer. You are to sing the transposition on an appropriate accompanying instrument of your choice.
• One free improvisation with a theme given by the interviewer. The interviewer may ask you to improvise alone, or to engage in improvised music-making in a duo improvisation.

Due to time constraints, you may not be asked to play the entire piece/song. The interviewer may stop you at any time, however, you should attempt to demonstrate your musicality, aesthetic expressiveness and technical competence in your playing. In the free improvisation, you should rely on your aesthetic musicality and musical expression to relate musical ideas to emotions, events, or scenarios.

Interview
During the interview, you are required to participate in a dialogue regarding the purpose of your application. Please be prepared to talk about your background, what inspires you and your influences. We would like to find out what motivates you to learn, explore and experiment in your areas of interest. You should also share how you think the programme will benefit you in your future career choices or develop your research interests.

In preparation for the interview, you may want to visit these online resources to have a foundational understanding of the discipline:
Association for Music Therapy (Singapore) http://musictherapy.org.sg/
Voices – A World Forum for Music Therapy https://voices.no/index.php/voices/index
American Music Therapy Association https://www.musictherapy.org/
Australian Music Therapy Association https://www.austmta.org.au/ 
British Music Therapy Association https://www.bamt.org/

International applicants
If you are unable to attend the interview/audition at LASALLE, an online interview will be arranged for you.

Other requirements
Priority will be given to those with a music degree e.g. music education, performance, music pedagogy, music history, theory and composition, or degrees from related fields such as psychology, neuroscience, social work, special education, health sciences, or counselling.

You are also required to:

• Commit to undergoing weekly personal therapy for the duration of the programme.
• Sign a suitability declaration indicating whether you have any criminal record and/or history at the point of admission to the programme*.
• Complete an Occupational Health Declaration, verified by a medical physician prior to admission to the programme. Both forms can be obtained from the Division of Admissions.

 
Both forms can be obtained from the Division of Admissions.

* Please note that given the nature and sensitivity of confidential case materials, professional and ethical best practices and the potential vulnerability of the clientele, many clinical placement settings as well as potential employers require a mandatory background security check for potential student interns.