Everyone Deserves Music
Hello everyone! My name is Emma Byrd. I’m the new Junior intern here at MTCCA, hailing all the way from Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA.
Starting internship is, without a doubt, one of the most exciting (and terrifying) steps that every music therapy student gets to take. It’s a moment in which we all have to step out of the pond we’ve gotten to know so well and into the great big ocean of internship. My professors liked to say that we would learn 10% of what we needed to know in school/practicums- and (hopefully) everything else during the 6 months that we’re in internship. In the past two and half weeks, I think I’ve learned more names, interventions and client goals than I have in my entire MT journey thus far.
The clients we serve at MTCCA are incredible people, with incredible stories and music to share. One of my favorite parts of every week are our “jam sessions.” Jam Sessions are 1-hour group sessions for adolescents with cognitive and physical impairments, during which we drum, learn social skills, and- of course- we jam. I have to say, there is nothing quite as satisfying as watching kids who spend their lives working extra hard to succeed despite their disabilities just let loose and drum. What’s really amazing about these jam sessions, though, is how seriously musical these guys and gals are. Of course there are moments when chaos descends, but there are just as many moments during which everyone comes together, singing the same words, feeling the same groove, and, almost magically, finding the “pocket.” I am left, after every jam session, totally inspired. Because of these groups, I don’t think I could ever again underestimate the clients we work with. Everyone has music- and everyone deserves music.
