Emma’s Top 10 Internship Learnings
My time interning at MTCCA has been a beautiful whirlwind. I am so thankful for all of the growth and experiences I have had here. Here are my top 10 learnings from internship:
- You have more time than you think. I used to think that 5 minutes wasn’t enough time to accomplish anything. In internship, I learned that you can use any amount of time to be productive. Whether you submit data, eat a snack, or take a cat nap, you can use whatever time you have to your advantage. It is all about your perspective.
- SLEEP! In college, I could try to stay up late studying, but in internship that does not fly. I learned that I need at least 7 hours of sleep to make it through each day. Internship requires so much of your body, it is imperative to rest!
- Less talk, more rock. This may seem obvious, but I learned to use music to drive everything in the session. The more time you spend talking, the more time your client’s engagement can derail.
- Be selective with your energy. Sometimes it pays off to go the extra mile in planning sessions or working on editing projects for your clients. However, an intern’s energy is stretched to the limit. It is important to balance with self care.
- Communication is key. It is critical to communicate with everyone you work with: supervisors, therapists, clients, clients’ families, facility staff, etc. So many problems can be avoided by checking in on a regular basis.
- Give yourself grace. The purpose of internship is to get supervision and feedback. it is a LEARNING PROCESS. A music therapist isn’t born overnight.
- Be adaptable. While adaptability is one of my greatest strengths, I have seen it pushed to its limit throughout internship. Being able to jump in and lead at any moment is a huge asset to the team and gaining valuable experience.
- Make music for fun! This is a key learning from my university program that has only become more relevant. It is so important to play your preferred music and instruments for self care in your free time. Don’t let yourself forget why you love music!
- Be present. The days go by so quickly and there are so many distractions and stressors that can steal your focus. Being present with your clients is the key to building rapport, adapting to their needs, and giving them the best services possible.
- Take risks. It might feel scary to try learning a song on the fly or adapt an intervention in the moment, but this is what music therapy looks like! You have to step out of your comfort zone to make music therapy possible. In the end, you will learn so much more from taking a risk than you would playing it safe.
I’ve enjoyed reflecting on everything I’ve learned throughout this amazing experience. I cannot believe this chapter of my life is coming to a close. I am beaming with gratitude for the education and experience I have gained. Thank you for everything MTCCA!
Much love,
Emma
