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Brittany Robertson, a senior in the WIU music therapy program, works with a patient at MDH recently.
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WIU's Music Therapy Students Comfort the Community

November 19, 2015

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MACOMB, IL – Many people use their favorite types of music as a form of entertainment, but for a group of Western Illinois University music therapy students, music not only can be a career, but also lead to an improved quality of life for people in need.

Western's music therapy program currently has about 60 students who traverse a four-year program of study that includes music and music therapy-related classes, as well as lessons in psychology, anatomy and physiology and social and behavioral sciences. As part of their education, the students must spend hours putting their classroom knowledge into practice, which is completed locally at schools, hospitals and care facilities.

"All of our music therapy students have six semesters of practicum experience," said Assistant Professor of Music Therapy Eileen Garwood. "During this time, they go into the community and work with various populations. This experience is part of the 1,200 hours of clinical fieldwork, including an internship needed to sit for the board certification exam."

Students are also supervised by Program Director and Associate Director of Music Therapy Jennifer Jones.

One of the practicum sites is McDonough District Hospital (MDH), where Garwood supervises the progress of the students.

"They work with patients in acute care, including doing an assessment to determine patient needs and what they can do to help," said Garwood. "Then they provide music to help the patient rest or fall asleep, to help diminish pain perception, or as a distraction from their hospital stay. Frequently family members are present and will also engage in music therapy sessions, sharing stories and memories. Music is the tool for building the relationship between the patients and the students, while meeting the emotional, physical and spiritual needs of the patients."

Music therapy sessions are patient-driven, in terms of choice of music and level of engagement. The length of the session is also patient driven.

All of the music is live and performed by students, including playing instruments or singing.

Brittany Robertson, a senior in the music therapy program, is currently completing her practicum placement at MDH.

"I look forward to doing music therapy at the hospital every week," said Robertson. "Not only do I get to help people through music, but I have the privilege of meeting and working with nurses and other staff members who are incredibly kind, helpful and supportive of what we are there to do. When I see patients smile at a familiar song, or when they report lower pain levels after our session, I know we have accomplished our goal for the session."

MDH's Connie Elting, leader of MDH's Acute Care and Intensive Care departments, said the hospital has been very impressed with the caliber of the University's music therapy students.

"The patients have found their interactions with the music therapy students to be very entertaining and therapeutic," said Elting. "Hospitalization can be very stressful, and oftentimes, the music helps to alleviate some anxieties or pain. The students have been extremely talented and professional."

Other locations WIU students work in locally include local long-term care facilities, special education classes in regional schools and daycare centers, as well as through private individual appointments on campus. The work the students put in helps address physical, social, emotional, communication and cognitive goals with clients.

After completing four years of coursework, WIU's music therapy students complete a six-month internship before taking the board certification exam. Once the exam is passed, the program graduate becomes a board certified music therapist.

The Fall 2015 incoming class of freshmen music therapy students is the largest in the program's history, with 30 new students.

For more information about the WIU Department of Music Therapy, visit wiu.edu/musictherapy.

Posted By: Jodi Pospeschil (JK-Pospeschil@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing