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| My beautiful grandmother! |
Katy's Perspective I first heard of music therapy when I was a junior in high school. I always knew that I wanted to help other people, especially in a healthcare sense. I also knew that I had a talent for music. I was so conflicted. My grandmother was my best friend. She’s the one that taught me everything I know about music and loved me unconditionally. I loved her so much. When I was discussing my thoughts about college, she brought up the idea of music therapy at Saint Mary of-the-Woods. Even though I didn’t understand much about music therapy at the time, I knew it dealt with helping others through music—a combination of my two wants in a career! I loved the idea of music therapy, but I was still conflicted. I thought about going into music education because I come from a family of teachers, but I also wanted to delve deeper into music therapy.  |
Accepting my
Musician of Promise
Scholarship - April 2018
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I auditioned and interviewed for the Music Therapy Program at SMWC, and the Music Education department at Indiana State in Fall 2017. In March 2018, I found out that I was awarded the Musician of Promise Scholarship at SMWC. Around that time, my grandmother went on hospice care for cancer. I knew that I wanted to go into music therapy to honor my grandmother, and I am so glad I did. As soon as I stepped into the Conservatory for my first day of college in August 2018, I knew I had made the right choice. |
Me & my Big, Abbie Roberts,
on Big/Little Reveal Night -
October 2018 |
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| Homecoming 2021! |
The coursework for music therapy was hard. My semesters were filled with up to fourteen classes that were stuffed with extremely valuable, but difficult, information. A lot of the time, I would be on campus from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. at night studying and doing homework for my classes. Some days were exhausting, but it was the support and closeness that I had from my professors, my friends, and my “Music Therapy Life Partner” (MTLP), Autumn Wilson, that helped me through my hardest days. Throughout my time at Saint Mary of-the-Woods, not only did I learn how to be the best music therapist I could be, but I also made lifelong friends. One of the benefits of going to such a small school is that all your classmates become family. Some of my favorite memories with my college best friends include our daily hangouts and study sessions while crammed inside the tiny student lounge, the Big/Little reveals, game nights, dinner parties, and so much more. Graduating is bittersweet. I’m excited to move out of Indiana and venture to new endeavors in Northern Virginia for internship, but I am devastated at the thought of leaving all my precious college memories in the past. As I move into my career as a future music therapist, I know that the friends I met in college will always be there. They will always be there for a group Zoom call or an impromptu karaoke night. The people that I’ve met during my four years are friends that will stay.Autumn's perspective
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| Fall 2018 |
When I was nine-years-old, a member of the South Bend Symphony Orchestra visited my elementary school to encourage us to join our local community youth orchestra program. I can still clearly picture myself sitting in the music room, listening to her demonstrate each instrument. As soon as I heard her play the viola (all she played was a scale), I knew that I had to learn how to play it. In fourth grade, I began playing the viola. I soon joined the band program in sixth grade as a percussionist after much indecision. I had planned on signing up to play clarinet, but my mom suggested trying out the percussion instruments. Although neither of my parents played musical instruments, they were supportive of me pursuing my passions. My sophomore year of high school, I started researching careers in music for a career project. I couldn’t see myself as a performer or teacher, so I started researching other options. Coincidentally, or as we fondly call it here, Providence, had its way and guided me to music therapy. My high school classmate, and 'Big', Olivia Wendel, was considering coming to the Woods. As I began looking into music therapy, she encouraged me to visit, giving me and my family our first tour here. I visited SMWC several times before ultimately deciding to attend here, and I’m so grateful that Providence has guided me along the way. |
Me & my MTLP,
Katy Pell
Homecoming 2021 |
My journey from freshman year to now has been a whirlwind. Although I’ve always been used to a busy schedule, I found myself a few hours away from home, living in a new place with new people. My freshman year flew by, and the sophomore year that upperclassmen music therapy students warn you about had begun, but I made it through. Yes, there have been many growing pains and late nights, but there has also been joy, laughter, and growth in an incredibly supportive environment. I’ve learned so much about myself during my time as a Woods student, and I couldn’t picture myself having gone to college anywhere else.
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| Academic Banquet - Spring 2019 |
I remember first meeting Katy at the scholarship interviews for the Saint Mother Theodore Guerin Scholar Program. She had on bright red lipstick, curled hair, and I heard her talking about being an incoming music therapy major. I was so nervous to meet her that I didn’t talk to her until we went to a preview day for the SMWC music programs. It’s amazing to think about how two very different people were put into each other’s lives for a reason, and I’m so grateful to be able to call her my “Music Therapy Life Partner” (MTLP). No matter where our journeys take us, I know I’ll look back fondly on our time together as undergraduate students, and I look forward to endless random phone calls filled with laughter and support in the future. This past year, we’ve spent a good amount of time reminiscing about our growth together and separately. As our freshman year ended, we started sophomore year before we knew it. Several of our peers had chosen to pursue different majors, and by second semester sophomore year, it was just the two of us. We were finally beginning to grasp more concepts about music therapy and facilitating in our practicum sessions when we were suddenly challenged in a way that we’d never expected - going into lockdown due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. All of our classes moved from in-person to online. Sophomore year of the program has several classes which heavily include playing instruments, so we had to get creative. Recording pieces on the piano and guitar in our living rooms and cooped up in our bedrooms doing homework late into the night, we did our best in an uncertain world. Together, we shared our hopes and fears. Would things ever go back to normal? Would we go back to in-person classes? Would we be able to make music together again?  |
| Ring Day - March 2021 |
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| Academic Banquet - Spring 2022 |
As we reached the end of sophomore year, we began junior year on campus, but with many restrictions. We began our practicum experiences in telehealth, and our classes were taught in a hybrid format. Despite the challenges, we were able to create music together and continue to move forward. We were able to celebrate Ring Day with our peers, do virtual concerts, and continue to gain more experiences in practicum working with many different individuals. And finally, we made it to senior year.
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| Winter Choral Concert - December 2021 |
At the end of sophomore year, after having my Gateway Disposition evaluation with Sharon Boyle, I remember talking to her about what it would feel like to be an upperclassmen. I was terrified. I felt a lot of responsibility because I had greatly looked up to those ahead of me, and I wanted those younger than me to be able to come to me, someone to look up to, and to support them on their journeys. I began to take on more leadership positions, and I ultimately became President of the Music Therapy Student Association (MTSA). I’m honored to have taken on this position to advocate for music therapy and to help become one of the most active organizations on campus.
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Spring Choral Concert -
Me & Ariana Hall
Spring 2022 |
Over this past year, I’ve had so many wonderful experiences. I got to partner up with Katy for the first time for both of our practicum placements this year. It was amazing to have the opportunity to work with her in a clinical setting after we’ve both grown so much. I took clinical improvisation class, and I grew much closer to my peers. It was a truly special experience, and I’m so grateful that I was able to be in such a musically creative and supportive space with them. Katy and I also both recently presented our senior projects - a culmination of our time here at The Woods as undergraduate music therapy students. “Mighty oaks from little acorns grow” has been one of my favorite quotes associated with coming to SMWC. As I’ve watched my Katy and myself grow, along with my amazing friends, I find myself overwhelmed with gratitude and pride to be a part of an ongoing legacy of students. |
Internship interview -
Winter 2021 |
From the Acorn Ceremony to all the upcoming senior ceremonies that I’m looking forward to, time has flown by incredibly fast. Even though I’ve had my struggles and many self doubts along the way, I’ve always been sure that The Woods has been a good place for me to be. Being a Woodsie has been dreamlike to me, a perfect fit: The small size, the campus, the faculty, the friendships, and the opportunities. I have truly found a home. I’ve grown so much over the past four years, and I can’t believe that I’ll be moving on to an internship within a few months. Thanks to the support of my family, and my second family: the SMWC faculty, staff, and my friends. I wouldn’t have been able to make it along the way without them.
"This is the path traced by Providence. And I follow it." - Saint Mother Theodore Guerin
Author: Autumn Wilson and Katy Pell, SMWC senior music therapy majors
Photo Credits: Autumn Wilson and Katy Pell
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Sharon R. Boyle, MM, MT-BC
sboyle@smwc.edu
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