Music therapy internship

Education requirements

The intern must be enrolled in a graduate music therapy degree program accredited by the American Music Therapy Association. Applicants who demonstrate high academic achievement will have priority. An educational affiliation/legal contract will need to be negotiated by the hospital and academic institution. If the academic institution and hospital are unable to form an educational affiliation, the student will not be able to complete an internship at our facility.

Entry-level skill requirements

The music therapy intern will need to have some experience in the areas listed below, as they will be nurtured and matured throughout the internship process. Some skills were adapted from the AMTA Professional Competencies. Because we strive to provide high quality to our patients, the intern will be required to demonstrate their musical, clinical, and professional skills through an interview and audition. Due to and following the COVID-19 pandemic, all interviews will be conducted virtually.

Voice
Intern demonstrates the following abilities using his/her voice:

• Ability to sing in tune and in tempo
• Ability to lead a group in song

Percussion
Intern demonstrates the following abilities using percussion instruments:

• Ability to accompany self and others proficiently

General musical skills
Intern demonstrates the following musical skills:

• Ability to improvise using percussion, guitar, piano, and voice
• Ability to play and transpose basic chord progressions (I-IV-V-I) in several keys
• Ability to use culturally appropriate music for a variety of cultures
• Ability to play and sing a basic repertoire of traditional, folk, and popular songs with and without printed music

Clinical therapeutic skills

Therapeutic applications

• Intern demonstrates basic knowledge of typical and atypical human systems and development (e.g., anatomical, physiological, psychological, social)
• Intern has knowledge of basic medical terminology and common pediatric illnesses

Therapeutic principles

• Intern demonstrates basic knowledge of the dynamics and processes of a therapist-client relationship
• Intern demonstrates basic knowledge of the dynamics and processes of therapy groups
• Intern demonstrates basic understanding of music psychotherapy
• Intern demonstrates the ability to assess client strengths, weaknesses and potential
• Intern develops, documents and executes appropriate goals and objectives

Therapeutic relationship

• Intern recognizes the impact of one's own feelings, attitudes, and actions on the client and the therapy process
• Intern has the ability to use oneself effectively in the therapist role in both individual and group therapy, (e.g., appropriate self-disclosure, authenticity, empathy, etc.) toward affecting desired therapeutic outcomes
• Intern demonstrates basic awareness of the influence of race, ethnicity, language, religion, marital status, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, ability, socioeconomic status, or political affiliation on the therapeutic process.

Professional skills

• Ability to work cohesively within a large department
• Ability to maintain professionalism with all staff
• Ability to collaborate with different professions (child life, social work, medical staff, etc.)
• Ability to maintain responsibility in regard to assignments due
• Ability to adhere to the AMTA Code of Conduct
• Ability to follow hospital policies and procedures
• Speak and write professionally and concisely
• Actively participates and engages in supervision
• Treats all persons with dignity and respect, regardless of differences in race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identity/expression

Interview/Audition

A personal interview/audition is required. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all interviews/auditions will take place virtually. Students will be asked to showcase two songs/experiences that may be of use in a pediatric medical setting. Students should expect to have these songs/experiences memorized. While there are no set guidelines on usage of piano/guitar, the student should be aware that guitar is primarily played at the facility because of accessibility.

Acceptance

Selection of music therapy interns is made on a basis of academics, references, experience and an interview/audition. Students will be notified of their acceptance into the internship program in writing. 

• If accepted, the intern will undergo a criminal background check and will need to complete a medical clearance including TB screening (this can be provided free of charge to the intern at Employee Health Services) and drug testing. Beginning in 2021, all students are required to have received the COVID-19 vaccine.
• The intern must have an educational affiliation with Cohen Children’s Medical Center prior to start date. The internship director will work with the academic institution to obtain legal documentation necessary for affiliation.

The music therapy intern should expect to be a part of a large, accepting pediatric interdisciplinary team consisting of music and art therapists, certified child life specialists, physicians (at all levels—medical students, residents, fellows, and attending physicians), nurses, social workers, chaplains, and physical, occupational, and speech therapists. As the hospital is located on the border of Nassau County and Queens County in the metro New York area, a strong diverse presence is adopted into the hospital’s core philosophy. CCMC also incorporates the philosophy of family-centered care into every aspect of its practice.

Internship days and hours will be scheduled by the internship director based on the supervisor’s schedule. The internship takes place over 10 months and is composed of three days/week. Occasionally, the intern will be asked to work different hours (nights, weekend, etc.) as the supervisor may be working different hours. It is the responsibility of the intern to keep a log of hours.

Interns have full access to all instruments and equipment available to the music therapists. Interns will share a locker with other child life/art therapy interns and will have access to multiple spaces/offices with computers. The intern will also have access to using specialized equipment specific to music therapists (recordable stethoscope, Mac editing software, electronic medical records, electronic census, etc.).

Before their start date, the intern will be provided with a self-guided training of hospital procedures, which includes information regarding safety and workplace culture. The intern will take a short quiz on the information provided in the training once during the orientation period. The intern will also be oriented and trained to their specific units, to the electronic medical charting system (Sunrise), and the electronic census (Cipher).

The intern may be expected to perform the following duties throughout their internship:

• Provide individual and group music therapy
• Provide music therapy as a means of procedural accompaniment
• Participate in weekly workshops with required readings
• Provide music therapy for legacy building, including with the patient, family, and siblings
• Collaborate with other staff in various projects/sessions (OT/PT, child life, etc.)
• Provide in-services on specific music therapy techniques
• Attend various meetings for child life, creative arts therapy, research, and palliative care
  • At times, these meetings will provide in-services from various staff members. These in-services available to the intern include lectures from various internal/external medical professionals.
• Attend medical, nursing, psychiatric, chaplaincy, and trauma grand rounds when deemed applicable to music therapy practice
• Provide music therapy during support groups (resident support, family support, sibling support, etc.)
• Provide musical experiences in hospital-wide events (special events, team building experiences, etc.)
• Write electronic progress notes in patient’s medical chart
• Provide a gap-in-service/betterment project
• Present a case-study in a child life/creative arts therapy staff meeting
• Learn to propose a research project
• Actively participate and engage in supervision

As we are based in a humanistic philosophy here at Cohen Children’s, we treat our interns with the same philosophy. Cohen Children’s Medical Center has a robust training program for many different disciplines, with music therapy being one within the Department of Patient and Family Centered Care. Our program will strive to offer opportunities for clinical, professional, and emotional growth in a safe and supportive environment.