Decolonizing Music Therapy in the Borderlands: Día de Muertos Traditions & Music Practices

Dia de los Muertos is an important holiday recognized and honored across the Latine diaspora. It is a time of joyful recognition and remembrance of ones we’ve lost and a chance to reflect on grief and loss in the community. Music accompanies several other practices and traditions during this time.

This CMTE provides an opportunity for participants to get an in-depth knowledge base of the holiday, the music associated with this time and discuss implications for music therapy practice.

Earn 3 pre-approved CMTEs

Musical appearances from RGV Music Therapy collective

Asynchronous and self-paced format

This course is pre-approved for 3 CMTE credits.

Course Learning Objectives:

  1. Participants will examine the historical, cultural, and contemporary significance of Día de los Muertos within Mexican and Mexican American communities, and its relevance to culturally responsive music therapy practice (5B-3).

  2. Participants will gain knowledge of culturally informed music therapy experiences that incorporate Día de los Muertos traditions while honoring client values and cultural identity (3A-7).

  3. Participants will identity the core elements and symbolism of a traditional ofrenda and explain how these elements can be incorporated respectfully into therapeutic programming when appropriate to clients' cultural identities, preferences, and goals (2D-5).

About the Instructors

ezequiel bautista, MT-BC

ezequiel (he/él) is an indigenous, xicanx music therapist working with displaced youth in medical and immigration contexts and is dedicated to the process of unlearning oppressive ways of being in the world with others. his work is rooted in borderlands and anti-oppressive approaches to practice and research.

Marisa de León-Oyoque, MS, MT-BC, TRS/TXC

Marisa (she/her) is a xicana music therapist in the Rio Grande Valley. She is the founder and clinical director of RGV Music Therapy and Wellness Center, a private practice specializing in culturally informed music therapy along the southernmost region of the Texas-Mexico border.

Pay what you can.

We believe that culturally responsive continuing education should be accessible to as many music therapists as possible. This course is offered on a Pay What You Can basis, allowing you to choose a registration amount that reflects your financial circumstances while helping support the continued development of culturally centered educational opportunities.

Every registration includes the same course content, learning experience, and CMTE certificate of completion—your chosen payment amount does not affect your access to the course.

If you are in a position to contribute more, your support helps make these educational opportunities available to colleagues who may otherwise face financial barriers. If you are not able to contribute at this time, we still welcome you to sign up and participate.

How to Complete This Course:

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  • "I gained more needed understanding of the holiday's history and cultural significance."

    — Course Participant

  • "I learned so much from a historical lens of how Dia de los Muertos was practiced and the influences of colonization."

    — Course Participant

  • "I was grateful for Marisa and ezequiel’s approach and delivery of this CMTE. The pacing, balance of music/presentation/dialogue, and intentionality was very impactful."

    — Course Participant

  • "The actual songs and musical selections felt very realistic and useful for music therapy practice. I can see myself using these in music therapy practices."

    — Course Participant

  • "I think what was most useful to me was the opportunity to hear and witness the music and stories that the presenters shared. It felt like the reflective and sacred space that was created during the presentation helped me better connect to what Día de los Muertos can be for the people and communities that celebrate it. "

    — Course Participant

  • "I wish there had been even more time. Not because I felt like there wasn’t enough but because I could’ve listened to the presenters and music for hours."

    — Course Participant

  • "It was very honestly the best one I have ever taken."

    — Course Participant

  • "This workshop has given me a more critical perspective of where, and who from, I learn about cultural practices. The practical discussions we shared about clinical musicianship of bolero style, and client-led exploration of how we may incorporate an ofrenda will guide me in my own work.""

    — Course Participant

  • "I also really appreciated how the presenters named, explored, and challenged how colonization, and Eurocentricity in the dominant narrative, has impacted and shaped what is now known as Día de los Muertos.""

    — Course Participant

  • "A decolonialized lens in a CMTE is possibly one of the most impactful things I’ve encountered."

    — Course Participant