The Value of Music Therapy Education and Training
When looking for the best way to support music therapy, education is an important element to further the field. The Peterson Family Foundation supports music therapy programs that provide educational opportunities for future therapists through internships and practicum.
Keep reading to find out how we’re supporting the future of music therapy, and support our mission by visiting our contribution page!
Meet UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital’s New Intern
We are proud to announce that Sandra Cheah, who has just started at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital, is our first fully-fledged music therapy intern!
Originally from Malaysia, Sandra Cheah is currently a music therapy intern in UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital. She graduated from Berklee College of Music with summa cum laude in her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Therapy and is fluent in four different languages including: English, Malay, Cantonese and Mandarin.
Sandra enjoys working with children and has experience in providing music therapy in special education schools, pediatric settings and multidisciplinary intervention centers. She has huge interest in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Music Therapy and wishes to start a program in Malaysia one day. Sandra is determined to fulfill her ultimate career goal: “To assist people of all ages, in sickness or in health, by enhancing their life through music.”
About the Music Therapy Internship
The clinical 6-month internship is a critical element in the music therapy degree. All future music therapists must complete a nationally accredited internship program before taking the CBMT board exam and becoming a fully-fledged music therapist. Our pioneer at UCLA, Jenna Bollard, just created an internship program and Sandra is the first student to go through it!
About Music Therapy Training & Medical Practicum
Our Music Therapists Brianna Negrete and Matt Logan have also started educational components to the UCSF Benioff Program. They now have practicum students from the University of the Pacific come to the hospital for their medical practicum!
All music therapy university programs are required to have a real world practical component of their program. The students shadow trained music therapist in various populations, and later facilitate music therapy with the supervision necessary to apply the concepts learned in the classroom. Having practicum locations with experienced music therapists is crucial for the development of music therapy students. Matt and Brianna are top notch mentors for these practicum students and are ensuring the highest standard for future music therapists coming into the field.
It is in this way that the Peterson Family Foundation not only supports the direct needs of our programs but is also investing in the future of music therapy by supporting the inspired and passionate music therapy students that will one day go out in the world to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
You can support the future of music therapy too, by visiting our contribution page!