Meet the Intern Behind the Posts: Mark
Mark McKenna is currently a music therapy intern for The Music Therapy Center of California. He will receive his Bachelor of Music in music therapy from Arizona State University upon completion of his six-month internship.
Mark’s primary instrument is tuba, which he studied during his time at Arizona State. He has played in several ensembles, including wind band, marching band, orchestra, jazz band, chamber ensembles, and community ensembles. Throughout his years of course work, Mark has worked with a variety of different populations and age groups, including elderly adults with dementia, children with special needs, and adults with special needs. Mark’s coursework has also led to him learning many different instruments such as guitar, piano, percussion, and voice, which he has been learning to adapt to therapeutic settings.
Mark’s Story
“For as long as I can remember, music has always been a constant, driving force in my life. My older brother and I were always listening to soundtracks from Disney movies, and other movies such as Ghost Busters and Blues Brothers. I first started learning the tuba when I joined the school band in sixth grade. By the time I was a senior in high school, I was fully enveloped in the world of music, and I knew that I wanted to make a living out of it. Initially, I wanted to be a music teacher. However, after discovering music therapy and doing a bit of research on the profession, I knew that it was what I wanted to do with my life, and I haven’t looked back since!”
