Ten Things to Know About Internship
So you just received a “Yes” from an internship location and you’re wondering what to expect next? Well, listed below are ten things to know about the music therapy internship experience from our previous intern: Elizabeth.
You may feel homesick. For some, the music therapy journey requires a move of locations. Whether it’s moving across town or to an entirely different country, this transition can be challenging. You may be called to temporarily leave behind family, friends, pets and familiar routines in an effort to follow your dreams. It is important to take time to acknowledge the homesickness you may feel, and to actively engage in activities to treat it. In my experience, the best antidote for homesickness was a threefold approach. Firstly, I began decorating my apartment with fun items that helped me feel more at home. I bought a rainbow night light, a lamp shaped like a goose and a few squishmellows. By Investing in items that make your home feel cozy you can greatly improve your homesickness. Secondly, I began exploring my new area. By walking around my neighborhood and driving to various stores and restaurants near me, I was able to expand the mental map I had of my town. Understanding the North, South, East and West of your new home can help rid some of the homesickness blues. Lastly, I waited for my homesickness to go away. Although it sounds cliche, time does heal all wounds. After a month or so of waiting, I felt my homesickness steadily fade and I was ready for my new journey as an intern!
Trust the process. For many, the music therapy internship process involves a steep learning curve. During the first few months, you may feel as though you are “failing” at your internship and that everything is confusing or hard. However, this is normal and after a few months, things should get easier. You will begin to surprise yourself with how much you can do! As someone who started their internship in the winter, I would often think to myself, once the flowers bloom, so will I. After a few tough months of quiet growth, I was ready to blossom into a strong music therapy intern.
Some experiences may be jarring to your senses. Whether you’re working with a client whose sensory needs involve leaping towards you, or in a facility with clients who loudly yell, or in a hospital setting with beeping medical equipment, or with young clients who have smelly diapers; during internship you could be faced with a few unpleasantries to your senses. As someone who considers themselves especially sensitive to external stimuli, this was a challenging aspect of internship to overcome. With time, safety precautions (Handsanitizer, face masks, etc.) and self care, I became less triggered by the external stimuli.
Reassess your neurotypical lens for interactions with clients. From experience living in an ableist and neurotypical world, some of us have preconceived notions on how things “should” go. It is important to reassess your neurotypical lens for how things “should” go in sessions. For example, you may ask your older adult client a question and receive an unexpected answer, or, you may plan an activity for a neurodivergent client, and realize you need to change the plan to accommodate their ways of being. It is important practice being comfortable with things not going as you initially planned and know that that is okay!
Pay special attention during the observation time. Most internships allot two to three months to observe/co-facilitate before it is the intern’s turn to solo lead sessions. Once you start leading sessions as an intern, you will likely not stop until the internship is over. That is why it is especially important to soak up as much information as you can during those first few months observing. Take notes, ask questions and try to pay attention as much as possible.
It can be expensive. Each internship experience will be different; however, many will have their own financial complications. You might have to pay for gas, materials/supplies, food, rent, instruments and more. Some internships offer a stipend, and some do not. It is important to advocate for your own financial needs. If your internship involves driving to many different locations and gas is becoming too expensive, consider talking to your supervisor about adjusting your schedule or even carpooling. It is important to be aware of the financial aspects of your internship and to save where you can!
Repertoire learning is extensive. Your internship may require you to expand your repertoire to include various time periods and genres familiar to the clientele you are interning with. For instance, you may be asked to learn a lot of songs from the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s if your internship includes older adult clients. Having a large repertoire of songs to use during a music therapy session allows for therapeutic flexibility, however it can be challenging to learn many songs in a short period of time. To make things easier, try to pay special attention to the songs your supervisors sing, you can even add some of them to your daily playlist. As you become familiar with these songs, it will be easier when it comes time for you to learn them.
Internship schedule is not a “regular” MT schedule. Although there is no such thing as a “typical” music therapist schedule, you can expect to be working longer hours during your internship than as a professional music therapist. After internship, you will likely have more flexibility in your caseload size, however, the internship experience requires a certain number of hours which usually equates to 35-40 hours a week. Understand that the internship schedule is not permanent and can likely slow down as you transition from an intern to a professional music therapist.
You will grow a lot! During the first months as an intern, I would often think to myself while observing my supervisors: “There is no way I can do that!”. Whether it was teaching an adaptive piano lesson, or leading a large group session, I felt intimidated by the confidence and skill level required to lead sessions. However, practice makes perfect; the more you lead challenging sessions, the easier they will become. In a few months time, you will surprise yourself with what you can do.
Continue with your hobbies. Although the internship experience can feel all consuming at times, it is important to allocate time for rest, play, and exploration. Internships can be demanding and stressful, however try spending time for yourself as well. Whether it is hanging out with your pet or reading a book, it's important to stay well rounded as a human being.
As you navigate your music therapy internship journey, feel free to use these ten tips as a guide post, and most importantly don’t forget to have fun!
Image: A white goose lamp on a wooden bedside table.