The Developmental Music Education® (LDME®) training program is a professional certification program which is designed by the Doogri Institute in colleges in the United States, and available globally. Graduates of the program may earn their license to practice as a Developmental Music Educator®, and teach piano to students with a special need with the evidence-based Doogri Method®.
The concentrated teaching in this program is intended for piano teachers, music therapists, and music professionals with a serious interest in pedagogy informed by neurological development. A complete curriculum is made available to our LDMEs to start a private practice from our material.
A course for professionals is offered each semester (spring, summer & fall). Trainees are in a cohort comprised of qualified professionals who learn as a class. Admission is specifically requiring transcripts of a 4-year music degree, or transcripts for those in their penultimate (3rd) year as a music major. The training focuses heavily on the tools necessary for a global private practice catering to autistic students, and makes a significant investment for a self-employed professional career.
The training course is for educational purposes only and is meant to introduce the methodology and implementation of the Doogri Method®. Attendees that complete this course are not permitted to conduct their own training or hold workshops or presentations on the method.
Prerequisites and Requirements:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have a professional music degree from a NASM accredited institution
- Apply for your required prelicense DME education (training course application)
- Complete your post-requisite requirements
- Pass your LDME® license examination
Post-Requisite Requirements:
- Within 45 days of completing the course, you must submit video archives of 6 sequential lessons demonstrating the application of DME in the lesson plan.
- The video must be submitted with a confidentiality release from the parent guardian.
- Upon receipt, you will be contacted to schedule a personalized 30-minute closing meeting through Zoom.
- An invitation to complete the licensing exam will be sent to you via email in 14 business days after the email is submitted. Licenses are awarded at the end of each cohort and a virtual graduation ceremony is held online.
Developmental Music Education® LDME® Training Course:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
An intensive, interactive introduction to DME, which will combine daily lecture, guided and critiqued practice, viewing of video footage, class discussion, and oral & written coursework.
Objective 1: Introduction to Developmental Music Education – The high musical aptitude in individuals with developmental disabilities, including savants and prodigies, contribute to the near-100% correlation between autism and perfect pitch. Students will explore current practices and unique needs that involve intellectual, sensory, motor, neurological, social, and emotional origins. Students will learn how to apply developmentally appropriate principles, research based methods, and practical techniques into their practice. They will develop a curriculum to improve the learning for their students who exhibit abilities across a wide range. CBMT Domain areas: I-B3, II-A1, II-A2 II-A3, and NASM music competencies: 3(b)2, 3(d)3. This course is the first in a series of three for eligibility toward DME® board certification.
Objective 2: Seminar in Developmental Music Education: In this course, students will think critically about developmental music education (DME) when they encounter it in a controlled setting. This seminar is designed to address the DME® clinical foundations and professional competencies: sensory assessment, accommodation, musical aptitude, learning style, visual distortion, absolute pitch, curriculum planning, method implementation, promotion, termination, or discharge. Students are expected to review the material of practical situations as encountered by human service providers, such as Licensed Creative Arts Therapists and other music education, special education, and mental health practitioners and apply previous experience to gain independent application in their clinical work. CBMT Domain areas: I-B3, II-A1, II-A2 II-A3, and NASM music competencies: 3(b)2, 3(d)3. This course is the second in a series of three for eligibility toward DME® board certification.
Objective 3: Developmental Music Education Practicum: The course serves as an audit of the senior developmental music education students’ knowledge and skills listed on the DME Association Professional Competencies and results in recommendation and eligibility for board exams and certification upon completion of the practicum. This course is the third and final in a series of three for eligibility toward DME® board certification. CBMT Domain areas: I-B3, II-A1, II-A2 II-A3, and NASM music competencies: 3(b)2, 3(d)3.