Studying for the Music Therapy Board Exam:
Part 1, Creating a Study Plan
by Allyson Rogers, MMT, MT-BC
*Music & Miracles is not affiliated or endorsed by the Certification Board for Music Therapists. All views shared are the sole representation of the author and not that of the Certification Board for Music Therapists or any of their affiliates.
You’ve passed your courses, made it through internship, and now you are ready to prepare for the music therapy board exam. But, you may find yourself wondering, “Where do I even start?”
One of the biggest challenges students face when preparing for this exam is knowing how and what to study. Music therapists are responsible for understanding a wide variety of clinical, musical, and ethical concepts. This often feels overwhelming, especially when students are on a time crunch to take their exam or are struggling to find helpful resources. What I’ve noticed as a music therapy exam coach is that students have the foundational knowledge from their coursework and internship experience, but they struggle with structuring their study time to fit their needs.
The solution? Create a study plan.
How to Create an Effective Study Plan
1. Plan to study for your exam for 4-6 weeks.
If you’ve just finished your internship, rest for a little while and celebrate your accomplishment. Don’t feel pressured to jump in right away. Then give yourself 4-6 weeks to prepare. This will give you time to space out your studying and truly absorb the content.
2. Know your schedule and make appointments with yourself.
Studying takes work, and if we feel overwhelmed or unmotivated it can be really hard to follow through. One thing that students have found helpful is setting consistent appointments with themselves in their calendar. By doing this you are making a commitment to yourself, just like you would with a study buddy.
The first thing you need to do is write down your schedule. Most students like to look at it on a week-to-week basis, but others like to write out their whole month. It’s up to you what feels comfortable. Next, think about when you are most energized and/or efficient. Are you a morning person or are you a night owl? Plan your “study date” at that time. My favorite tool is Google Calendar because I can set a reminder which sends an alert to my phone when it’s time to complete a task.
3. Study in shorter bursts with intentionality.
Have you noticed that by the time you are finished preparing your study materials that you are too tired to even study? Are there piles of books and flashcards all over your study space? Do you study for hours at a time? It’s okay if you said yes to most or all of these questions. We’ve all done it, and we’ve all been studying harder than we have to.
Many students are shocked when I tell them they are over-studying by reading, taking notes, or flipping through flashcards for hours on end. Our brain can only focus for ~50 minutes before it needs to take a break. Plus, when we flip from topic to topic it doesn’t allow our brain sufficient time to consolidate the information. That’s why it’s important to plan shorter, focused study sessions ahead of time.
4. Finally, write out your plan!
I recommend choosing 5 days out of the week where you study for 60-90 minutes. On each day, pick a topic and method. The topic is what you are going to study, the method is how you are going to study (e.g. a chapter from a book, a video, etc.). The 6th day of the week is going to be your “intensive” day where you study for 3 hours across the day (example: one hour in the morning, one after lunch, and one before bed). Students typically use this time to review material from the week, go over practice questions, etc. The 7th day is a self-care day. Students use this for busy work days or days where they want to rest. Make sure to use it!! It’s important to take care of your body and mind during your studying process.
Tip: You can repeat topics and methods until you feel comfortable with the information.
I hope these study planning tips help you feel prepared and confident to take the music therapy board exam. Let me know if you have any questions or thoughts.
Happy studying!
Allyson
If you are interested in learning about our coaching services for the music therapy board exam, reach out to us on the Exam Tutoring page or send an email to info@mandmtherapy.com.
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