I’m proud to be a music therapist every day of the year, but especially on this one. March 1st is World Music Therapy Day, so today I’m celebrating my colleagues around the globe, the amazing work they do, and all of those who have and continue to benefit from music therapy services.
My own music therapy journey started in the fall of 2004, when I began a graduate and equivalency program at Illinois State University. I became board-certified in the summer of 2007, right after taking on my first professional position as a music therapist.
Since pioneering a brand-new MT program in that job and starting a private practice around the same time, I’ve had the honor of serving clients, students, and patients in many settings.
There have been countless breakthrough moments in my sessions over the years: a young girl learning to jump and doing it for the first time in front of her mom and siblings, a group of at-risk preteens working together to write an original song and then performing it in front of a large audience at a fundraiser, and a child successfully expressing his emotions using language learned through music, just to name a few.
And although I don’t provide nearly the amount of direct service I used to, I’m still surrounded by music therapy (and get to hear the success stories!) on a daily basis.
My private practice has grown to include 4 board-certified music therapists, which is HUGE considering that less than 10 years ago, I was the only one in the Springfield area. Because of this fantastic team, we have been able to touch the lives of hundreds of individuals throughout central Illinois.
Even after 11+ years in this field, I still feel like I have so much left to learn and experience. Thankfully, there are so many colleagues I consider to be mentors who so generously share their knowledge with our community. I’m excited to see what the future holds for music therapy as a profession, in my life, and in the lives of the people we serve.
If you’re a music therapist making a difference through practice or creation of resources — thank you. If you’re someone who receives music therapy services — thank you. If you’re an advocate of music therapy — thank you. Today is a day to celebrate this amazing therapeutic modality and the difference it is making in the world!
