Faculty, students represent RU at music therapy conference
The Department of Music was well represented at the 2019 Mid-Atlantic Music Therapy Association Conference in Reston, Virginia. The annual conference, held from March 8 through 10, 2019, hosted a contingent of music faculty and students from Radford’s program who contributed to the conference schedule. The Department of Music also donated 500 branded bags to the conference, establishing them as a gold sponsor for the event.
During the conference, Dr. Sekyung Jang gave a presentation with Anna Lise Filippone, Lizzy Kunde, and Wei Lo titled “Video-based reflective practice: A practical methodology to enhancing self-awareness and clinical skills.”
Graduate students Skyler Cumbia and David Blanco presented “An introspective examination of collaboration with Speech-Language Pathologists within a preschool language lab.” The students were offered an opportunity to present their work as a result of their well-received presentation at the 2018 regional Passages Conference hosted at Radford University.
Fellow graduate student Sophie Tenaglia presented her work toward her graduate music therapy project, titled “Examining the functions of music therapy for Queer-identified college students.”
Students David Blanco, Skyler Cumbia, and Anthony Kaseoru each presented their work during the conference’s research poster session. Submissions were peer-reviewed and students worked in collaboration with a Regional Research Committee member to refine their 12-minute podium and poster presentations. Their presentation titles were:
- Blanco: “A qualitative inquiry on the impact of an interprofessional music therapy and speech language pathology program on the perceived stress of caregivers of children with speech and language disorders”
- Cumbia: “A focused ethnography of student perspectives on interprofessional collaboration between Speech-Language Pathologists and Music Therapists”
- Kaseoru: “Comparative use of yoga and progressive muscle relaxation to prepare for a structured music and imagery experience”
Adaisha Cole was named as one of two student representatives to the Cultural Humility, Accessibility, Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity Committee, a professional standing committee within the region.
Dr. Lauren DiMaio co-presented a five-hour continuing music therapy education session titled “Supervising the National Roster Music Therapy Intern,” and also represented the music program at the annual high school information session; a yearly offering where local high school students can learn about pursuing music therapy in college.
Dr. Trish Winter, Director of Radford University’s Music Therapy Program, was heavily involved in the conference as well. She presented during several sessions including “Solidarity singing: the role of music therapy in social justice,” and “foundation and beginning grant writing.” She also co-presented a five-hour continuing music therapy education session titled “A clinician’s guide for interpreting and applying research in evidence-based practice.” Additionally she co-hosted the annual regional meeting for music therapy faculty in her role as a steering committee member of the faculty forum, and she also hosted the research award session in her role as a member of the regional research committee.