This video is an overview of my Music Therapy Discovery and the Power of Persistence.
My Music Therapy Discovery began in 1995 when I separated from active duty Navy after serving 7 years active duty as a Navy Supply Corps Officer. I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life and decided to look at local colleges to see what type of Music Degrees they offered. I was wondering the halls of the music building at Charleston Southern University, this quote was posted to a bulletin board in the music building.
What is Your Talent? Is it Music?
If so, consider a career in Music Therapy
I had not heard of Music Therapy but was very intrigued. Music Therapy is very simply…the use of music to achieve non-musical outcomes that is conducted by a Board Certified Music Therapist. I had found what I was looking for…direction from God of what my new life’s mission was…to use music to help people.
I attended Charleston Southern only one semester and moved to Virginia Beach with my husband. There were no colleges in the Virginia Beach/Norfolk area that offered Music Therapy, so I attended Old Dominion University as a Music Piano Performance Major and Psychology Minor. In addition to performing a Piano Recital, I learned how to play classical guitar and volunteered at the Hampton Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center (Nursing Home and Paraplegics) to do music activities with the patients. I also continued drilling as a Navy Reservist. During this time, our son was born at Portsmouth Naval Hospital…I used recorded music to help me relax during childbirth.
In 1998, I returned back to Active Duty Navy and put my Music Therapy aspirations “on the back burner” but always founds ways to use music to help people. When our family moved to Millington, TN, I would play guitar for a co-worker brother who had a stroke. When we stationed in Rhode Island, I used drumming activities with our son’s first grade class. Also, during this time, I played classical guitar to relax her and help family members when my mother was in hospice and passed away to cancer.
When we were stationed in New Orleans, I attended Loyola University (one class during a semester) and complete the course work for Music Therapy. My Music Therapy practicum sites included Woldenberg Village Nursing Home (skilled nursing for patients with Alzheimer’s and Dementia), River Oaks Children Psychology Hospital, Lazarus House (half way/transition house). All Music Therapy courses were complete … just waiting for Music Therapy Internship (6 month site). After several move Navy duty stations, we returned back to Norfolk, VA and I retired in 2014.
My Music Therapy Internship site was at Eastern State Hospital that provides mental health services to approximately 300 patients in various treatment units. The Hancock Geriatric Treatment Center (HGTC) provides care for patients 65 years or older. The Adult Mental Health Treatment Facility functional programs include: admission/acute treatment program, intermediate intensive treatment program, forensics, and counseling rehabilitation program. Treatment is planned and provided by a multi-disciplinary team comprised of physicians, psychologists, nurses, social workers, occupational and activity therapists, and registered dieticians. The full program of activities and therapeutic treatment modalities include expressive therapy, occupational, recreational, music therapy and patient library services.
Also during my internship, I received the Virginia Music Therapy Association Scholarship. The Loyola University program prepared me extremely well to the Music Therapy Internship and Music Therapy profession. The quality of instruction, experience level of all professors, accessibility of local Music Therapists for practicum sites, curriculum, and Monroe Library internet accessibility allowed me to stay current and connected even though I moved to Virginia. I’m so appreciative of the flexibility of Dr. Vega and Dr. Allen due to career obligations to the Navy. They allowed me to stay connected to Loyola and put this Music Therapy Internship on hold until after I retired from the Navy. It has also prepared me well to become a successful and dynamic Music Therapy Business Owner.
Through my power of persistence, doing a little bit each day, year or duty station, I have completed my Music Therapy Degree after 19 years and four colleges later. Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill [1938]. Persistence si the Power of sustained effort necessary to induce faith and is the Eighth Step toward Riches
PERSISTENCE is an essential factor in the procedure of transmuting DESIRE into its monetary equivalent. The basis of persistence is the POWER OF WILL.
