Niki's Jamaica Music Therapy Trip
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Hey there! I'm Niki, and I am a junior studying music therapy at Indiana Wesleyan University. I have been blessed with the privilege to travel to Jamaica for 10 days this upcoming summer to not only continue my clinical training towards my dream of becoming a music therapist, but also to engage in my first ever "mission trip" beyond the borders of the US.
In case you are stumped about what this music therapy thing is that I am pursuing, music therapy is more than simply singing for clients or playing recorded background music for someone who is sad. Music therapy is the evidence-based practice of using music as a tool to reach non-musical goals-whether those are physical, emotional, or cognitive goals-with people across the lifespan, administered by a thoroughly trained, nationally (by the American Music Therapy Association) board-certified music therapist. I am currently training towards becoming one of these board-certified music therapists.
Prior to my departure, I will have an online course to complete during my spring semester, where I will learn facts about the culture, trip details and guidelines, and musical/clinical material I will use on the trip, which includes Jamaican folk songs and simple phrases in Patois, which is the second main language used there (English is the official language of Jamaica). During this trip to Jamaica, I will have the opportunity to work alongside 14 other music therapy students from across the US, and supervised and trained by 12 AMTA board-certified music therapists. I will be living with these students and professionals within the village where we will be practicing.
The people I will have the exciting opportunity to work with are children at the special needs school, the elderly at the nursing home, and Jamaicans of various populations at the homeless shelter. By the end of this trip, I will also have 40 clinical hours, which I will be able to add to my required hours I need before I can graduate. Once we complete our training and clinical hours for the week, my peers and I will have a day or two to explore the beauty of Jamaica and spend some fun, relaxing time with the villagers.
There are no words to describe how elated I am to have this opportunity this summer! Between working with the people there, accomplishing this through something I love and am training towards, learning and working alongside new friends and credentialed professionals, and earning clinical hours towards my degree, I cannot think of a better, richer opportunity than the blending of all of these facets into one trip. But in order to make this possible, I will need lots of prayer and financial support from you and friends across the country!
Please consider and pray about giving financially toward my trip. Any amount is greatly appreciated, as it will only take me closer to the people of Jamaica! But if you find that giving financially is something God is not calling you to do towards this particular situation, I would appreciate your continued prayers over the next few months that the Lord will provide in all facets to make this Jamaica trip possible and to make it a successful mission. I have until the end of February 2017 to reach my goal! Thank you for reading and for your love and support!
In case you are stumped about what this music therapy thing is that I am pursuing, music therapy is more than simply singing for clients or playing recorded background music for someone who is sad. Music therapy is the evidence-based practice of using music as a tool to reach non-musical goals-whether those are physical, emotional, or cognitive goals-with people across the lifespan, administered by a thoroughly trained, nationally (by the American Music Therapy Association) board-certified music therapist. I am currently training towards becoming one of these board-certified music therapists.
Prior to my departure, I will have an online course to complete during my spring semester, where I will learn facts about the culture, trip details and guidelines, and musical/clinical material I will use on the trip, which includes Jamaican folk songs and simple phrases in Patois, which is the second main language used there (English is the official language of Jamaica). During this trip to Jamaica, I will have the opportunity to work alongside 14 other music therapy students from across the US, and supervised and trained by 12 AMTA board-certified music therapists. I will be living with these students and professionals within the village where we will be practicing.
The people I will have the exciting opportunity to work with are children at the special needs school, the elderly at the nursing home, and Jamaicans of various populations at the homeless shelter. By the end of this trip, I will also have 40 clinical hours, which I will be able to add to my required hours I need before I can graduate. Once we complete our training and clinical hours for the week, my peers and I will have a day or two to explore the beauty of Jamaica and spend some fun, relaxing time with the villagers.
There are no words to describe how elated I am to have this opportunity this summer! Between working with the people there, accomplishing this through something I love and am training towards, learning and working alongside new friends and credentialed professionals, and earning clinical hours towards my degree, I cannot think of a better, richer opportunity than the blending of all of these facets into one trip. But in order to make this possible, I will need lots of prayer and financial support from you and friends across the country!
Please consider and pray about giving financially toward my trip. Any amount is greatly appreciated, as it will only take me closer to the people of Jamaica! But if you find that giving financially is something God is not calling you to do towards this particular situation, I would appreciate your continued prayers over the next few months that the Lord will provide in all facets to make this Jamaica trip possible and to make it a successful mission. I have until the end of February 2017 to reach my goal! Thank you for reading and for your love and support!
Organizer
Niki Weidner
Organizer
Cincinnati, OH