Wartburg Student Music Therapy Association

Congratulations to our seniors who graduated from Wartburg College and the music therapy program on Saturday!

Kalie Dalen
Elena Downs
Emma Erkenbrack
Adam Schmuck

Our final Senior Spotlight is Adam Schmuck!

What are your plans for after graduation?

-I am applying to internships in the Pacific Northwest, hoping to work with older adults and/or neurological rehabilitation.

What most excites you about going into the music therapy profession?

-having the opportunity to work with many different kinds of people in any kind of setting. The world is my oyster!

What has been your favorite part of the Wartburg Music Therapy Program?

-the lab! And the community of students and professors.

If you could offer one piece of advice to music therapy students just starting out in the program, what would you say?

-Things might not make a lot of sense to you right at the beginning, but as soon as you have the chance to practice your skills in practicum it will start to fall into place.

Our next Senior Spotlight, Emma Erkenbrack!

What are your plans for after graduation?

“I will be interning at Catholic Eldercare in Minneapolis, MN, starting in June. I will be working with older adults in memory care and assisted living.”

What most excites you about going into the music therapy profession?

“I am so excited to work alongside others to better their health and well-being through the medium of music.”

What has been your favorite part of the Wartburg Music Therapy Program?

“I have loved getting to learn and collaborate with other future music therapists.”

If you could offer one piece of advice to music therapy students just starting out in the program, what would you say?

“The process of growing as a musician and clinician may be challenging, but in the end you will be thankful for all that you have learned and accomplished that had equipped you to go out into the world.”

Meet our next Senior Spotlight, Brynn Hanson (that’s me!)

What are your plans for after graduation?

“I have accepted an internship at Music Therapy Services of South Dakota in Sioux Falls starting in October! I will be working with various populations.”

What most excites you about going into the music therapy profession?

“I’ve had a servant heart for a long time now and I’m excited to provide a service to people using a medium that has been importation my life for as long as I can remember. I’m eager to see ah-ha moments with my clients in the future!”

What has been your favorite part of the Wartburg Music Therapy Program?

“I’ve always appreciated how the program meets you where you are at in your skills when you first come in. You expected to be a pro at everything in order to succeed. I also love how much clinical exposure we get throughout our 4-years!”

If you could offer one piece of advice to music therapy students just starting out in the program, what would you say?

“Make sure that while you are balancing school and extracurriculars, you take time for yourself to listen to your own music that you love and commit to a hobby that you enjoy. This will help prevent burnout!”

Here is our next Senior Spotlight! Meet Elena Downs!

What are your plans for after graduation?

“I’m applying to an internship in Texas to work with Mexican-American communities in the borderlands, and to a couple of medical setting internships in Minneapolis! I’d like to work with communities, mental health, and children.”

What most excites you about going into the music therapy profession?

“I love being able to use music therapy as a way to advocate for and empower others, and to help people realize the resources and skills they already have with music.”

What has been your favorite part of the Wartburg Music Therapy Program?

“My favorite part has been getting to jump into music therapy right away from my first year, and being able to learn alongside other incredible people like music educators and performers.”

If you could offer one piece of advice to music therapy students just starting out in the program, what would you say?

“It’s okay if you don’t really know what kind of population you want to work with, and it’s okay if learning instruments is hard!”

It’s already time for Senior Spotlight! First up is Kalie Dalen!

What are your plans for after graduation?

“I have accepted an internship at University of Iowa Hospitals working with all kinds of populations! The internship is split into three parts: hospice/palliative care, psychiatry (mental health), and pediatrics/NICU/oncology”.

What most excites you about going into the music therapy profession?

“Being able to help and connect others through a medium that I love: music!”

What has been your favorite part of the Wartburg Music Therapy Program?

“How close-knit and supportive the music therapy program is.”

If you could offer one piece of advice to music therapy students just starting out in the program, what would you say?

“Don’t quit when you get imposter syndrome; everyone experiences it! Surround yourself with supportive people and remind yourself that you have something special to offer that is unique.”

What an amazing Enlightenment Week! Thank you to everyone that participated and helped make it possible! 🎼🧡🖤

Happy Enlightenment Week! People with autism are one of many populations that can benefit from music therapy! Swipe to learn more ➡️

We are so excited to be gearing up for Enlightenment Week next week! There are so many fun activities that we would love for you to attend. Come support the Wartburg Music Therapy Department!

Some of our students and faculty had the wonderful opportunity this weekend to attend the Midwest Music Therapy Conference in Iowa City!

We met so many old and new friends and learned so much about the field and advocacy in the sessions!

Introducing our President, Kiley Anderson!

Meet our WSMTA President-Elect, Hannah Koch!