June 7, 2018 | Blogs and News
Help us give a warm welcome to CMF’s wonderful Music Therapist, Jenny! She has taken some of her time to answer us a few questions about her experiences in the field and give us insight on what it really feels like to be a Music Therapist!
Q: What does Music Therapy mean to you?
A: Music Therapy is the use of music as a tool by a certified clinician to achieve goals for a variety of populations. Personally, Music therapy means I’m able to reach and help people with music, whereas maybe some other method couldn’t. I have been able to combine my two favorite things in life: Helping people and music.
Q: Why do you personally think Music Therapy works?
A: I personally think Music Therapy works, because Music is a universal language, it’s noninvasive and safe when used correctly. Of course, different cultures respond to different types of music, but a good clinician will be able to adapt the best they can to their patient’s needs. Music Therapy isn’t just a Spotify list sent to a patient and then left alone, it’s a human connection with music as the bond.
Q: If you could describe Music Therapy in three words, what would they be?
A: Diverse, Adaptable, Uplifting.
Q: Do you have any advice for those who are thinking about pursuing a career in Music Therapy?
A: My advice for those pursuing a career in Music Therapy, is to really try to experience all of the populations that a Music therapist can work with, or even try to find a new population that isn’t being worked with! Music has the potential to reach all stages of development and diagnoses in one form or another. Do your research and look inward, as well. You get a lot from the amazing people you work with and you will also give a lot of yourself to those same people.
Q: What are your favorite moments during a Music Therapy session?
A: My favorite moments during a Music therapy session have been connecting with teens that denied all of the other activities offered in the hospital or weren’t speaking before I arrived. I love seeing little kids that were scared to get an injection, laughing and playing an instrument while I sing their favorite song. I once had a boy that was admitted for suicidal ideation and we wrote songs together that said he wanted to pursue a career in Music and was excited to leave the hospital to work hard on it. Music provided a motivation, distraction, moment of happiness, or a moment of normalcy for all of these patients while being isolated in a hospital.
Q: What goals do you hope to achieve while working with The Children’s Music Fund?
A: I hope to work with more children and teens that could use our help. I hope to also help The Children’s Music Fund grow so that more children are able to receive our services!
We hope that Jenny’s inspiring words will help more and more people understand why we are on this ongoing mission of healing through music. We look forward to continue working with her to make more differences for children everywhere!