Certificate in Sound, Voice, and Music Healing Program Requirements
Certificate Requirements
Students must complete 200 hours of required coursework over a period of one academic year (September through May). Upon completion of the coursework, students are required to submit a final project in order to obtain certification.
CEUs Available
Some of the Sound, Voice, and Music Healing Certificate classes can be used to fulfill the CEU needs of MFTs, RNs and LCSWs.
Areas of Study
The Certificate curriculum is divided into four broad areas of study:
Sound, Voice, Rhythm, and Music (60 Hours)
Theoretical and technical dimensions of musical expression
Psychoacoustic Music: Music-Centered Therapies and Auditory Stimulation Program (60 Hours)
Therapies and Remedies
Scientific research and applications
Sacred Sound (30 Hours)
Music shamanism, sound ecology, and the transformation of consciousness
Professional Applications (50 Hours)
Sound healing in health centers and healing music production;
includes introduction to pathology and counseling techniques
Class Topics (partial list)
Sound Science and Sound Therapies
Sound, Voice, and Music Foundation and Technique
Application in Healing and Transformation of Consciousness
Music and Brain Entrainment
Drumming and Overtone Singing
Creative Music Therapy & Clinical Improvisation
The Art of Improvisation
Music Shamanism
Healing with Sacred Sound
Sound Healing and Tuning Forks Practicum
The Tomatis Method and Auditory Stimulation Protocols
Cross-Cultural Healing in Medical Settings
Deep Listening and Vocal Meditation
Healing with Sound and Dreams
Cymatics and Sound Art Therapy
Music Healing at Birth and End-of-Life Care
Psycho-acoustic Music Recording and Production
Afro-Brazilian Movement and Ritual Chants
Mantra and Healing: Transforming Emotions to Devotion
Creative Embodiment; Using Music, Story, Rhythm and Movement
Didjeridu in Breathing, Healing and Meditation
The Healing Harp
Musicianship Development
Tibetan Sound Healing
Integration, Modalities and Professional Applications of Sound Healing
Students Practicum and Clincs
Music Performance as a Healing Art
African American Music and Spirituals
Policy for Missed Classes and Students from out of town
Please note that students must complete the entire curriculum, which meets at predetermined times throughout the year, in order to receive the certificate of completion. Should a participant miss one or two classes, he or she will have the option of either attending another class offered by CIIS Public Programs & Performances or completing a special project at an additional cost.
If a student misses a class, he or she must make up the class by taking another class that is equivalent of the content in the missed class. The student may take a non-certificate class through Public Programs & Performances at a 15-25 percent discount. In certain cases, the student may find a class elsewhere to fulfill the requirement. All make-up classes must be approved by Silvia Nakkach and the director of Public Programs & Performances. We do everything we can to create solutions for unavoidable schedule conflics, but out of town students must attend most classes locally. It is not possible to complete the program online or remotely.
If you live outside of the Bay Area, please contact the Public Programs & Performances office at (415) 575-6175 to address the details of your particular situation.
Students can accrue 20 hours for an individual project at an extra cost (to cover advisor and other administrative fees).