Master of Music Therapy student placement: welcome Megan!
We are lucky to have Master of Music Therapy student Megan on clinical placement with Attuned Health this semester.
Megan has a Bachelor of Contemporary Music specialising in vocals through the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). She is passionate about the capacity of music to empower participants to find joy and meet their goals through tailoring their musical experiences.
What led you to music therapy?
During covid when I could no longer gig with the cover bands that I played in, I was considering alternate career paths. I was watching tv and a segment on music therapy in an aged care setting popped up. Witnessing people with advanced dementia reminiscing during musical experiences was very moving. This was when I first started to investigate music therapy and all the different ways it could be used.
What do you love about being a music therapist?
I absolutely love music; in particular singing, I also love working with people and have a passion for health care. Music therapy provides me the opportunity to work with people, using music to meet their goals. I feel so privileged to be involved in people’s individual healthcare journey.
Is there a specific music therapy moment that has stuck with your or shaped your practice? Tell us about it
As I am still a student my music therapy moments have been through observations, one moment that stands out was when I was shadowing a music therapist in an older adult mental health unit. The connection and joy that the group session brought to the participants was so powerful, to see people that were largely non-verbal singing with each other and connecting was incredible. This was the moment I decided to pursue a career as a music therapist.
What is one thing you wish people knew about music therapy?
How powerful music can be. There are so many different ways music can be harnessed to help meet different goals. I am always incredibly moved by the depth of connection that music brings to those that engage with it.
What music or instruments do you like to play and listen to?
I’m a singer, I love to sing pop, folk, indie and rock. I’ve played piano since I was very young and now acoustic guitar too. I’m a massive Swiftie, she was my first big concert when I was 15 and I’ve since seen her many times.
Tell us something we might not know about you… (hint give us something personal, non-music therapy related)
I’ve worked in the public health system in catering for many years, I’ve been an assistant catering manager for one of the major public hospitals and as a result am very passionate about our public hospital system and food safety! Outside of this I love Pilates, brunch and my guinea pig Linda (named after Linda McCartney of course).
Megan’s future goal is to…Finish my master’s degree and be a qualified RMT, I’d like to specialise in neurologic music therapy which I have enrolled in later this year. I would like to empower those seeking music therapy and provide them with the resources they need to best support themselves. I’m excited to learn as much as I can and I feel so lucky that I get to start that journey with Attuned Health!
