Enriching lives through participation in music
Music Therapy Services of West Music
Music Therapy in the Quad Cities
09/16/24
Expansion of music therapy services to Quad Cities of Iowa & Illinois hinged on partnering with the local school system to provide services related to students Individualized Education Plans (or IEPs). Since the early days music therapy has expanded into a variety of other clientele. Below you can meet the current therapists in the Quad Cities and read about some unique offerings there!
Veteran's Affairs Guitar Group
Music has always been a big part of Denny’s life. He was a DJ for many years, sings in his church choir & a local community choir, and enjoys participating in karaoke events around the area. Denny has had a guitar for years, but really started to learn and enjoy the instrument when he joined the Veteran’s Center Guitar Group.
Denny attended his first guitar group in February of 2020. He enjoys getting together with the other members with whom he can share stories about his time in the military, while also hearing theirs. He likes how relaxed he feels afterwards and the laughter and smiles that are shared within the group. His guitar skills and knowledge have grown, and his confidence has increased so much that Denny now plays guitar at his church and open mic nights! Denny said that this group gives him a reason to practice guitar everyday and to become better at the instrument.
Out of the numerous songs Denny has learned, his favorite is “Country Roads” by John Denver, because it is a song that people of many generations know and can sing along to.
Meet Laura!
Laura started working with West Music in the Quad Cities in 2022. She studied music therapy at Illinois State University and completed her internship with an adult day-service program based out of Indianapolis. Laura works with a variety of populations, and she especially loves working with adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities. She plays piano, guitar, and marimba and in sessions she likes having clients play boomwhackers because they are colorful and fun! In her free time Laura enjoys traveling with her husband and dog, reading, playing games, and watching Chicago Cubs baseball games.
Meet L!
L. has enjoyed working with people of all ages at West Music since 2005. She currently works primarily with school-aged children in special education. L. appreciates collaborating with others on her teams and loves seeing the growth the kids make as a result. She also reaps benefits from music therapy sessions, as it encourages the practice of being present, patient, and flexible. L. has enjoyed serving as the internship director since 2013. She strives to cultivate a supportive internship that prepares future music therapists for their careers.
School Districts
10-year-old William’s parents were introduced to music therapy by his special education teacher when he was five years old. His teacher believed music therapy could augment his communication, reading, and math goals and his mother, Abbey, has seen this become a reality.
Trying new things can be intimidating for William, and Abbey appreciates that in music therapy, new lessons are presented in a way that promotes success by focusing on strengths and creating a safe space to keep trying.
Abbey notes particular growth in Wililam’s communication skills, noting that “as a result of music therapy, he has gained the ability to communicate preferences on an electronic communication device. Abbey goes on to acknowledges that William’s progress in communication is tied directly to success in other academic areas, as well as social/emotional skills and physical health. She says, “We are extremely appreciative of the learning opportunities West Music - Music Therapy provides. Our son is making academic, social, and emotional growth. It is exciting to witness his confidence increase.”
Meet Kelly!
Kelly joined the West Music team in 2005 and has served in several roles including supervisor, Director, and clinical music therapist. Throughout her career, Kelly has worked with a wide variety of populations, and she especially enjoys helping people at the end of life by bringing joy and connection to families during some of life's most stressful moments. In 2022, Kelly decided to pursue her Ph.D. in Music Therapy with the ultimate goal of becoming a college professor. She says, "I am excited to share my passion for [music therapy] through training the next generation of music therapists!"
