Taking an active role in the education and training of music therapy students has always been a fundamental part of our mission at Spectrum Creative Arts. We are so proud to be a training site for practicum and internship students from several local colleges and universities.
This fall, we are so pleased to welcome Madison and Mackenzie to our Spectrum team! Throughout the next few months, they will be working closely with our music therapists and their students to complete their clinical training as part of their music therapy degree program. It’s only been a few weeks, but they’ve already started diving in!
We asked each of them to share a little bit about themselves:
Madison Boyden, Purdue University Fort Wayne
Hello Everyone! My name is Madison Boyden and I am a music therapy intern at Spectrum Creative Arts. I am finishing up my undergraduate studies in music therapy with a concentration in voice at Purdue University Fort Wayne, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. As an Indiana native, I am thrilled to be able to broaden my horizons and experience and learn about music therapy in the Rochester area! I was most interested in pursuing the music therapy internship at Spectrum because of its vast array of individuals served, and passion to provide quality services to all ages, abilities, and populations. Being passionate about community outreach myself, I fully admire Spectrum’s continuous efforts to creatively bring music therapy to everyone, and I feel privileged to be able to learn from such an eclectic group of music therapists!
Music has always been a huge part of my life. As an infant, I was immersed in music, as my parents both loved music and enjoyed making music as a hobby. My experience with music at such a young age, set the tone for the years to come! I started playing the violin through a school program when I was eight years old and enjoyed playing in the middle school orchestra. I then became more interested in singing, after being involved in various musical theatre productions, which then eventually led me to enjoy competition show choir until I graduated from high school.
I first learned about music therapy from my father who worked in behavioral health and often co-treated with a music therapist. Once I learned more, I began to realize that music had become a way for me to creatively express myself, build relationships, and foster coping skills, and I wanted to provide those same opportunities for others. I believe that engaging in music with other people is beautiful and life changing and is something I am so incredibly passionate about!
I have had many amazing opportunities for learning and growth as a student music therapist. In the summer of 2019, I participated in a month-long opera festival called Operafestival di Roma, in Orvieto and Rome Italy, where I performed in three fully staged operas and a scenes program and was able to experience music and opera in a different culture. Shortly after returning to Indiana, I gave a presentation at the Indiana Activity Director’s Association Seminar entitled “Benefits of Music Therapy with the Geriatric Population.” From that, I was able to network and start leading music activities at a local long- term care facility. Most recently, I led a community engagement project: “Singing Through Change, ” for women in a residential addiction recovery program. This project provided the women involved with an opportunity to participate in a choir composed of Purdue Fort Wayne students, as well as community members. To financially support the project, I was able to acquire a Purdue Service- Learning grant and submitted a reflective essay that has been accepted for publication in the Purdue Journal of Service- Learning and International Engagement. I have also held an officer position in the Purdue Fort Wayne Music Therapy Club and, in the spring of 2020, received the Purdue Fort Wayne School of Music award for most outstanding student in the Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy degree program.
In my free time, I enjoy spending time outside with family and friends, reading, listening to podcasts, watching movies, and making music for myself. I love cats, and I have two of them back in Indiana! Lately, I have been reading about different personality theories and how they explain human behavior. My favorite singers are Norah Jones, Carole King, and May Erlewine, but I also love listening to music from the Baroque period from time to time. Fun fact- I also love Broadway musicals, and had the opportunity to sing with performer and actress, Kristin Chenoweth, when she came to Indiana in 2016!
Mackenzie Bobezko, Slippery Rock University
Hello everybody! My name is Mackenzie Bobeczko and I am a music therapy intern at Spectrum Creative Arts, LLC. I am from a small town in Cortland, Ohio and have been thrilled to explore a new city and meet lots of new people. So far my favorite things about the Rochester area are the Pittsford Farms Dairy, Trader Joe’s and Lake Ontario. I am looking forward to learning more about this wonderful city in the next 8 months!
My education as an undergraduate is through Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania. Music therapy is my major with a focus in piano and psychology as a minor. Music is my life! I began training in piano when I was 5 years old. I learned by ear at first and quickly built my repertoire. Favorite composers of mine are Beethoven and Brahms! I explored a variety of instruments as well that I was very excited about learning in college. Cello was the newest instrument for me to learn which I have studied for 4 semesters. I have also loved marching band playing the flute and piccolo. I am looking forward to expanding my knowledge and learning a lot more!
I learned about music therapy from a project in high-school. At first I was interested in becoming a special education teacher. From doing research for this project, I saw how I could use music for music therapy and I was super excited because I wanted to keep playing music forever and helping people at the same time so it a perfect fit! Because of this project, I went to shadow a music therapist at University Hospitals in Cleveland, OH and from that experience I knew I wanted to do music therapy for the rest of my life. Music therapy is something that I am extremely passionate about and I can’t wait to work with people who are just as passionate!
Fun facts about me are that I have 8 pets in my hometown: two large dogs, five cats and a bird. Another fun fact is that one of my best friends lives across the world in Japan which I have traveled to and miss dearly! I find joy in going somewhere new which is why this internship is so far, an incredible experience. My musical preferences are a range of styles and musicians. I love pop, some country, Harry Potter/Disney songs, (a side fun fact is I was involved in a Harry Potter Club in all 4 years of college), my favorite is folk music. I am currently listening to a throw-back playlist of songs from the 2000’s. For fun in my free time I enjoy playing video games such as the new Animal Crossing New Horizons, Mario Kart, I am involved in an Among Us group as well and I love traveling when I can.
I am looking forward to working and meeting everybody at Spectrum Creative Arts, LLC.!