The purpose of this study is to explore the perception and application level of practicum competencies of music therapy students. A survey was conducted on 71 music therapy students currently in the clinical practice training. The questionnaires were ...
The purpose of this study is to explore the perception and application level of practicum competencies of music therapy students. A survey was conducted on 71 music therapy students currently in the clinical practice training. The questionnaires were composed of three categories: general information of the participant, the participant's perception for each practical competency, and the participant's application level of each practical competency. The results of this study indicated that, first, for the perception level for each practical competency, the average score of the 'rapport' was highest, the score being 3.52 out of a likert-type scale of 4, and the average score of 'experience of countertransference' was 2.48, which was the lowest. Secondly, for the application level of each practical competency as a therapeutic factor that influence the client, the average score of 'supervision experience' was 3.29, which was the highest of all, and the average score of 'experience of countertransference' was the lowest, which was 2.53 out of 4. Further analyses indicated that in the application level of nonverbal skills as a practical competency in the clinical training, there was a significant difference between the application level of the students in the first semester of clinical practice and those in their third semester and interns(p<.05). Overall this study highlights the perception and application levels of practical competencies of music therapy students. Specifically, the students perceived that competencies such as 'rapport', 'supervision experience', and 'nonverbal skills' were factors that influence the client in the session, but they also had difficulties in managing countertransference. These findings indicate that a more systematic clinical training is needed for strengthening practical competencies, pivotal in clinical practice.