To fulfill their educational requirements, all music therapists must complete an internship. West Music has a internship program that offers a 6-month internship to music therapy students. Siena, our current intern, is almost halfway through her time at West Music, and has much insight to share from her experience so far.  

A Well-Rounded Experience 

The beauty of completing an internship at West Music is that I get to work with several groups of people. From children in schools, to older adults in retirement homes, to adults with disabilities in day programs, I get to observe and lead music therapy sessions in various settings every single week. While some internships offer specialized training in one particular setting, interning at West Music offers a truly well-rounded experience.  

Gradual Transition from Student to Professional 

Most students do not enter their internship until they have completed all of their coursework. As a result, the most clinical experience music therapy students have prior to internship includes one practicum music therapy session weekly during the semester. Although weekly practicums provide helpful experiences, I quickly discovered that planning for multiple sessions a day, every day of the week posed a whole new set of challenges! I was fortunate to experience a smooth transition from classwork to clinical work. My first few weeks as an intern were spent mostly observing other music therapists, getting acquainted with clients and staff, and getting my feet wet by leading a few interventions here and there. Now that I am in my third month, I lead entire sessions with supervision and receive helpful feedback afterward. In the next two weeks, I will be ready to work independently and lead sessions without my supervisor present throughout my final months here. Transitioning gradually into working and session leading independently made the challenges of internship more manageable.  

West Music as a Community  

My favorite aspect of interning at West Music is connecting with the music therapists that work here and the larger community. West Music has a growing team of 11 music therapists across Iowa. The music therapy team comes together at least once a month to share ideas, problem-solve, and work together on various projects. The music therapists at West Music not only collaborate among themselves, but also with staff and clients at the facilities they work in, the staff in other departments of West Music, and with other organizations in the community. I feel extremely privileged that I am becoming a member of this community and that I am given opportunities to take on leadership roles in groups like SoundReach choir and Parkinsingers. These groups are a wonderful way to connect with a community of people and share the joys of making music together.  

My experience as an intern at West Music has been overwhelmingly positive. I believe that my time here will prepare me wonderfully for a career in music therapy. Internship at West Music offers a well-rounded experience, helpful support for students transitioning to the professional world, and connection to a supportive community.