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Dr. Melody Schwantes

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Dr. Melody Schwantes

  • Associate Professor of Music Therapy and Program Director of Graduate Music Therapy Program, Hayes School of Music

Background and Expertise

About

Dr. Melody Schwantes is the graduate program director for music therapy at Appalachian State University, where she has taught since 2007. Her clinical experience includes work with older adults, adults with mental illness, children with disabilities and adults with medical needs in a variety of settings in the U.S, as well as in the Czech Republic. Her research centers on social justice and participatory action approaches, and she has presented at conferences nationally and internationally. 

Schwantes has previously held editorial roles with peer reviewed journals including Music Therapy Perspectives and Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy. She values critical pedagogy in her classroom and works toward being an inclusive educator and practitioner. 

Areas of expertise

  • Critical pedagogy
  • Inclusive advising
  • Music therapy
  • Research epistemology
  • Design

Education/Academic qualification

Philosophy in Music Therapy, PhD, Aalborg University

… → 2011

Music Therapy, MMT, Appalachian State University

… → 2007

Music Therapy, BM, Appalachian State University

… → 2001

Psychology, BA, Appalachian State University

… → 2001

Research Interests

  • Social justice
  • Participatory action approaches