West Chester University Music Therapy Program

09/18/2026

Lundy Langstaff, a sophomore music therapy student, led the Hello Song.

09/18/2026

Our 2026 All-Student Advising Day was held in a hybrid format today!

We welcomed our first-year students with Lundy and our sophomores’ Hello Song, enjoyed a fun music activity led by Professor Vereen, and shared advising updates from Dr. O’Brien and Dr. Suh.

We also heard updates from the Music Therapy Club, celebrated our students’ research projects, said hello to our internship students joining us virtually, and shared exciting updates about our recent graduates and their job placements!

It was wonderful to have our Music Therapy community together and celebrate where our students are now—and where they’re headed next! 🎵💙

09/18/2026

Our 2026 All-Student Advising Day was held in a hybrid format today!

We welcomed our first-year students with Lundy’s Hello Song, enjoyed a music activity led by Prof. Vereen, and shared advising updates from Dr. O’Brien and Dr. Suh.

We also heard updates from the Music Therapy Club (Kailey, president), celebrated our students’ research projects, said hello to our internship students joining us virtually, and shared exciting updates about our recent graduates and their job placements!

It was wonderful to have our Music Therapy community together and celebrate where our students are now and where they’re headed next! 🎵💙

08/24/2026

Starting on Monday at 2 PM EST, join members of the West Chester UniversityMusic Therapy Team for the Music, Connection, and Well-Being Workshop. 🎹

Each session will provide opportunities to engage with music while supporting relaxation, emotional expression, connection, and overall well-being. No musical experience is needed. Just come as you are and experience the supportive power of music.

📲 Follow the link in bio to sign up: https://bit.ly/45siVe9

07/11/2026

The all-star WCU team... Cross-Cultural Collaborators!

Today at the WCMT in Bologna, Italy, Dr. Suh, Prof. Vereen, & Dr. O'Brien presented their upcoming research with the presentation... Connecting Borders Through Rhythm: A Cross-Cultural Examination of Percussion-Based Interventions to Reduce Aggression and Enhance Social-Emotional Development in Adolescents.

Drum on! RAMS UP!

07/06/2026

Congratulations and best of luck to our music therapy program faculty, Dr. Eun Sil Suh, Dr. Christina D. O'Brien, & Professor Ian Vereen presenting at the World Federation of Music Therapy World Congress of Music Therapy in Bologna, Italy, this week!

Dr. Suh (PI, PASSHE FPDC recipient), Dr. O'Brien, & Prof. Vereen, along with SMT Caitlin Biddle will present a workshop on their drumming research project: Development and Preliminary Evaluation of the Therapeutic Percussion for Executive Function and Social-Emotional Learning (TP-EFSEL) Protocol for Children with Executive Functioning and Pro-Social Challenges Development and Preliminary Evaluation of the Therapeutic Percussion for Executive Function and Social-Emotional Learning (TP-EFSEL) Protocol for Children with Executive Functioning and Pro-Social Challenges.

Dr. O'Brien will also present a workshop on her work with carceral youth titled "Listening from the Inside: Creative Healing within Juvenile Detention."

We wish them safe travels and wonderful presentations this week!

07/05/2026

I'm pleased to share that the Music Therapy Practice Act passed the Pennsylvania State House.

Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski and I have been working on this legislation for some time to appropriately define a certified music therapist in state law. This way we can place safeguards for these professionals and help ensure more residents can access this care that can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, ease pain, and improve communication and social skills.

I am grateful for all the legislators and advocates, including the Music Therapy PA State Task Force who got us to this point, and I will be continuing our work to ensure this bill comes to a vote in the Senate.

06/02/2026

Attention all music therapy undergraduate students in the U.S. at AMTA-accredited programs!

Our SMT Seung Mee Baak is conducting a research study and needs your help! Please consider sharing and offering your insight about Imposter Phenomenon as an undergraduate music therapy student.

Scan the QR code or use the link below!
https://wcupa.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9QNIPD5yP1LeiOy

05/21/2026

Take a listen to this awesome podcast episode about music therapy licensure with Madison and Dr. Hahna, partnered with PMEA!

We just released a new Take Note podcast and we're talking about music therapy in Pennsylvania. Dr. Nicole Hahna and Madison Frank join us to talk about music therapy and the push for licensure in Pennsylvania.

Find Take Note in your favorite podcast app or at www.PMEA.net/takenote

05/17/2026

Congratulations to our GLR colleagues in Minnesota for passing their MT licensure bill!

Now, PA has to follow!

KEEP MUSIC THERAPISTS IN PENNSYLVANIA!

From our Past-President Todd Schwartzberg...

"Last night, May 16th, 2026 at 9:45 pm, HF 3825, the bill that includes Minnesota Music Therapy Licensure officially PASSED the Minnesota House Floor with overwhelming bipartisan support in a vote of 123-10!

This means that music therapy licensure in Minnesota is now heading to Governor Tim Walz's desk to be signed into law."

Congratulations to the state of Minnesota, the Minnesota Music Therapy State Recognition Task Force, music therapists, colleagues, legislators, families, clients, advocates, organizations, partners, the Minnesota Department of Health, and all others who helped to make this happen!

🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉