The Internship Experience

The Music Therapy Internship is designed to provide a wealth of experience within the medical setting, structured around patient and caregiver needs. The Music Therapy Intern will be expected to work alongside interdisciplinary staff, learning how to provide patient-directed, meaningful, and purposeful services as a team, while building quality working relationships with colleagues. 

Opportunities

The intern will have the opportunity to: 

• Orient to the facility
• Shadow, work, and grow alongside all Board-Certified Music Therapists working at URMC
• Shadow and collaborate alongside professionals from other departments
• Attend and collaborate in interdisciplinary rounds
• Grow skills related to advocacy and music therapy-related education
• Independently lead and co-lead individual and group music therapy sessions
• Engage in weekly, one-hour supervision meetings with Internship Supervisor, while receiving regular observation with Internship Supervisor and mentorship with other Board-Certified Music Therapists throughout the week
• Engage in weekly group supervision meetings with Internship Director, Internship Supervisor, other Board-Certified Music Therapists, and/or Music Therapy Interns, if applicable 
• Communicate effectively with Internship Supervisor and other Board-Certified Music Therapists regarding challenges, concerns, questions, and feedback provided

Outcomes

The Music Therapy Intern will:

• Leave feeling confident in their music therapy professional competencies, standards of practice, and code of ethics
• Leave feeling confident in their ability to pass the National Board Certification Exam and feel supported as they apply and interview for professional positions
• Grow in their musicianship and therapeutic music skills pertaining to voice, keyboard/piano, guitar, and auxiliary percussion instruments
• Vastly grow their repertoire, clinical interventions, composition, and musical improvisation skills
• Grow in their clinical skills, feeling confident in moving forward with them within a professional setting 

Expectations

The Music Therapy Intern will:

• Adhere to URMC’s policies and procedures
• Adhere to URMC’s Music Therapy Program’s policies and procedures
• Lead and/or co-lead individual and group music therapy sessions for patients on their assigned caseload (after completion of orientation and professional observation period)
• Complete documentation using the electronic medical record system, including referrals, assessments, treatment plans, session notes, and graduation of services/discharge
• Complete assignments, projects, and presentations assigned within the due date range provided

What to Expect from the Internship Supervisor

• Weekly four-hour clinical observation
• Weekly, one-hour supervision meeting
• Fair, honest, and quality supervision provided within the boundaries of Internship Supervisor
• Provide a wealth of experiences outside of clinical necessities which will tie naturally with the education of a music therapist
• A compassionate and educational environment with bountiful opportunities to engage in interdisciplinary work with colleagues from all departments
• Opportunities to co-treat, learn, and be supported by a dynamic group of experienced and highly skilled Board-Certified Music Therapists