Community Engagement in Music Therapy:  Reflections from the Field

Jess Rushing; Denise M. Cumberland

Community Engagement in Music Therapy: Reflections from the Field

Authors

Jess Rushing Colorado State University
Denise M. Cumberland University of Louisville

Keywords:

Clinical training, Service-learning, Community Music Therapy, Community Based Participatory Research, Parkinson's disease

Abstract

This paper reflects on a music therapy community engagement project that incorporates clinical training, service learning, and community music therapy. Two faculty members and a practicum student in a Midwestern university engaged community members connected to Parkinson's disease to create a music-based program. We offer a conceptual framework that connects approaches situated within community music therapy (CoMT) qualities and community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles. We share project processes, findings, and recommendations, emphasizing all as equal stakeholders.

Author Biographies

Jess Rushing, Colorado State University

Jess Rushing, Ph.D., MT-BC, is an assistant professor at Colorado State University. Current clinical focuses include mental health, medical, and TBI. Dr. Rushing's research includes stroke, supervision, and community engagement. Dr. Rushing is currently the chair of the ACRM Arts and Neuroscience Networking Group.

Denise M. Cumberland, University of Louisville

Denise M. Cumberland is a tenured Associate Professor at the University of Louisville. She has a joint appointment in the College of Business and the College of Education and Human Development. Her research focuses on program evaluation and training. She has over 40+ peer-reviewed articles in scholarly journals and multiple book chapters.

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Published

04/22/2024

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 1 (2024)

Section

Insights, Case Studies, and Applications

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