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Music Therapy
Music therapy at Arkansas Children's is offered to specific inpatient units throughout the Little Rock hospital. Our music therapist is certified through the Certification Board for Music Therapists and works with patients and families to meet treatment goals. A music therapist works to help patients cope with different emotions associated with illness and extended hospital stays. No previous musical training is needed to participate in music therapy. A music therapist will design a treatment plan based on your child's needs. During a session, a child may be encouraged to play instruments, sing, listen, discuss songs' lyrics, or write and record music. The music therapy program also signs out instruments for patients to use while in the hospital. Instruments currently include guitars and ukuleles.
Music Therapy Benefits
- Promote Wellness
- Manage Stress
- Alleviate Pain
- Express Feelings
- Enhance Memory
- Improve Communication
- Promote Physical Rehabilitation
Music Therapy Internship
A music therapy intern should expect to receive hands-on experience with supervision from a supervising board-certified music therapist to foster their skills in music therapy. This includes improving proficiency in various instruments, putting music therapy theories to use with patients and demonstrating these skills in the pediatric hospital setting.
The intern will take on a full-time schedule working Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for the duration of the internship period. This intensive schedule allows for the most immersive experience. The intern can expect to work with various patients spanning ages from infancy through adolescence. The intern will have the opportunity to work with patients of different diagnoses throughout the internship experience.
Interns will initially observe a supervising music therapist for a period of three to four weeks. This period may vary depending on the needs of the intern. After this observation period, music therapy students will be referred to individual patients primarily, with opportunities for small group sessions. A typical patient caseload for an intern will be between ten to fifteen patients. Individual sessions can last between thirty minutes up to an hour, depending on the patient population. Group sessions will be set at an hour as it is not uncommon for patients to arrive late due to other treatments. Group sessions at ACH tend to be between three to five patients.
Also, interns will attend all relevant child life and education departmental meetings and have the opportunity to participate in other events relevant to their growth as music therapists.
Exploring the Impact of Music Therapy on Patients
Ryan Howard sits down with Andrew Ghrayeb, a music therapist at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. They discuss the transformative power of music therapy in pediatric care, how it aids in motor skills, speech recovery, and emotional well-being. Andrew shares insights on working with children across various units, from rehabilitation to the NICU, and offers a glimpse into the day-to-day life of a music therapist. Learn about the role of music therapy, its benefits, and the dedication behind the scenes in improving the lives of young patients. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation about the healing power of music!
Watch below or listen to the pdocast.
Contact Music Therapy
Our music therapist looks forward to working with your child at Arkansas Children’s in Little Rock. Music therapy is available Monday - Friday from 8:00 - 4:30. For additional information or questions regarding music therapy, please contact Andrew Ghrayeb MT-BC.