Degrees:

M.M., Music Therapy, Western Michigan University

B.A., Music Therapy, Mercyhurst University

Courses Taught:

MUS 156: Class Guitar for Music Therapy
MUS 159: Class Voice for Music Therapy
MUTH 101: Music Therapy Foundations
MUTH 102: Clinical Musicianship and Songwriting
MUTH 103: Psychology of Music
MUTH 104: Clinical Experience I
MUTH 201: Special Populations of Music Therapy
MUTH 204: Clinical Experience II
MUTH 302: Percussion and Improvisation for Music Therapy
MUTH 304: Clinical Experience III
MUTH 305: Clinical Experience IV
MUTH 405: Clinical Experience V
MUTH 406: Clinical Experience VI
MUTH 473: Music Therapy Internship 

Interests and Professional Activity: 

Brittany Barko Krugger is the newly named director of the Music Therapy program and assistant professor of Music Therapy at Mercyhurst University, beginning in Fall 2023. She is a multi-instrumentalist native to Erie, Pennsylvania, who was the first graduate of the Mercyhurst University Music Therapy program in 2013. Brittany completed her internship at University Hospital’s Case Medical Center in Cleveland. She then earned her M.M. in Music Therapy at Western Michigan University. Her master’s thesis focused on integrating music therapy into evidence-based exercises for individuals with Parkinson's disease. Since 2016, Brittany has worked as a contract neurologic music therapist in Erie serving individuals with neurologic and behavioral needs, such as stroke, Parkinson’s, Down Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Alzheimer’s disease, and traumatic brain injury. As an additional role at Mercyhurst, she is the Director of Liturgical Music since 2020, where she plans music, coordinates rehearsals for the multi-instrumental ensemble for Sunday Masses, and provides music on vocals/piano/guitar/organ.

Brittany and her husband Charlie comprise the project “kellys brother,” best described as an alternative folk ensemble that seeks to inspire others by telling the story of their sister with special needs, Kelly, through original music and visual art. Their donation-based project, which has already released two albums of original music, is in the process of becoming a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation to support Native Americans with special needs.