Florida Music Therapy Internship Opportunities
2024 Internship Placement: Now Accepting Applications
Brevard County:
Start Date October 1st, 2024 // Application Deadline March 20th, 2024 POSITION FILLED
Start Date January 6th, 2025 // Application Deadline October 15th, 2024 POSITION FILLED
Start Date April 7th, 2025 // Application Deadline EXTENDED January 1st, 2025
July 7th, 2025 // Application Deadline EXTENDED January 1st, 2025
October 6th, 2025 //Application Deadline March 1st, 2025
Lee County:
Start Date October 1st, 2024 // Application Deadline March 20th, 2024 POSITION FILLED
Start Date January 6th, 2025 // Application Deadline October 15th, 2024
Start Date April 7th, 2025 // Application Deadline EXTENDED January 1st, 2025
July 7th, 2025 // Application Deadline EXTENDED January 1st, 2025
October 6th, 2025 //Application Deadline March 1st, 2025
*please note everything listed below under “Application Submission” is due by these deadlines; Incomplete applications will not be considered.
WELCOME!
Dear Prospective Intern,
Thank you for your interest in Florida Music Therapy’s internship program. A music therapy internship is not only the culmination of your education, but an invaluable time to build the foundations and skills for your future career. The following information is provided to give you a picture of our private practice, our internship program, and help you determine if Florida Music Therapy is a good placement for you.
Should you choose to apply, please submit the application below and follow steps for mailing transcripts and emailing video example of skills. If you require further assistance or have additional questions, please feel free to contact us.
Wholeheartedly,
Courtney Arndt, MT-BC
Florida Music Therapy Founder and CEO
National Roster Internship Director
Courtney@FloridaMusicTherapy.com // 321.209.1008
PHILOSOPHY
Florida Music Therapy employs a humanistic and person-centered care model using trauma informed care. We use these frameworks to assess and address the needs of each client, provide a safe, supportive, and accommodating environment, and provide respectful and compassionate care. Clients are engaged in treatment with safety, choice, trustworthiness/transparency, and empowerment. Our clients’ safety, wellness, and dignity are the center of treatment. Clinical techniques and uses are individualized and backed by the current evidence-based trends of research, all pending approval of clients’ choice and informed consent.
We use a criterion-reference assessment, Suzanne Hanser’s assessment from The New Music Therapist’s Handbook, and/or an assessment created in our private practice. All three of our methods are based around evaluating areas of development and/or functioning through music interventions. We collaborate with families, other therapeutic disciplines, and educational professionals to get a more accurate understanding of needs. With our value of transparency, these assessments, goals, and objectives are a collaborative effort with the informed client at the center of the process. After determining a client’s specific needs, our music therapists plan and implement specific music therapy interventions to reach personalized non-musical goals.
Our practice is based on establishing safety, building a therapeutic relationship, and providing tools needed to address individualized goals with our participants. Music, by nature, aids greatly in feelings of safety, community, and provides effective tools to address a number of goals. All our client interactions are based around clients’ choice, safety, and therapeutic needs. Safety is established physically, relationally, and musically together, therapist and participant. We utilize principals of trauma informed care: safety, choice, collaboration, trustworthiness, and empowerment through all elements of interaction, music and treatment. This includes choice of location, objects, elements in physical space, the transparency and collaboration of goals, objectives, and treatment, choice and control of music and shared musical experiences. The trauma-informed lens leads well into a humanistic approach where our music therapists utilize music and all elements of music to engage and create within the therapeutic relationship. Music is a valuable tool for developing and enhancing self-concept, value, expression, and healing. Music is used to express positive regard and reinforcement. We believe individuals flourish when in a safe environment on their terms of safety, when they have the tools and accommodations needed to be their best selves, and when their journey is shared in a therapeutic relationship with a trained and trusted professional.
PHILOSOPHY OF TRAINING INTERNS
At Florida Music Therapy, we believe that skills are learned in a multimodal approach through observing, studying, practicing, and leading. Interns will have hours of observation, co-leading experiences, independently leading sessions, and personalized assignments/projects to increase musicianship, therapeutic knowledge, and practice, and business/management.
Florida Music Therapy employs a humanistic and person-centered care model using trauma informed care. We believe this is the best approach to therapy as well as training. An internship should build on the strengths and needs of the client with safety, choice, trustworthiness/transparency, and empowerment.
The most important aspect of a successful intern training experience is first and foremost that the clients receive quality music therapy services. Secondly, that the interns receive a quality educational experience to complete their training and prepare them for their future careers. Thirdly, that our practice is sharpened, strengthened, and improved.
Music therapists are often led to their career out of a love for and deep connection with music. Music increases creativity, empathy, tenacity, and mental wellness. Interns will be given assignments and encouraged to use music in and out of internship hours to continually cultivate their personal connection with music for optimal training, self-care, and wellness.
FLORIDA MUSIC THERAPY
Courtney Arndt, MT-BC, founded Florida Music Therapy in 2018 in Melbourne, Florida after a decade of practicing in St. Louis, Missouri. Florida Music Therapy remains the only music therapy practice in the county and serve a wide range of ages, diagnoses, and needs. We see clients with developmental disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, sensory disorders, medical trauma, traumatic birth experience, sexual trauma, child abuse, foster care/adoption transitions, and others. During our current pandemic, we offer tele-health services and live services with increased sanitation. Our studio is located in a local church’s Life Enrichment Center and all of our sessions are completed here. There will be opportunities for interns to observe and lead tele-health and live sessions, group and individual sessions. Interns will be expected to commit to working full-time, Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with an hour lunch break. Some evening and weekends may be required, but will be discussed prior.
INTERNSHIP ASSISTANCE
Housing – Provided in Melbourne, FL location only
Meals – None provided. However, a fridge and microwave is on site and we’re always in supply of coffee, tea, and snacks.
Stipend -- Provided in Lee County location only $3,000, made in six $500/month payments
Required Health Insurance – Not provided, please check with your university for coverage.
Required Professional Liability Insurance – Not provided, please check with your university for coverage.
Background Check and Drug Screening – Not provided
INTERNSHIP SCHEDULE:
Month One
The focus will be on orientation and observation. The intern will observe, participate in, and co-lead assessments, treatment planning, and individual and group sessions, and documentation along with the internship supervisor and director. After demonstrating sufficient therapeutic skills and client-interaction, the intern will gradually assume more responsibility.
Months Two and Three
The intern will slowly assume responsibility for the treatment planning, therapy, and documentation of a set of clients. The intern will independently conduct a music therapy assessment and/or reassessment, assuming the readiness of skills. This will include writing and delivering an assessment report. The intern will begin preparing for their community in-service. At the end of the third month, the internship supervisor and director will complete a mid-term evaluation and the intern will collaborate in determining goals for the second half of the internship with focus on professional competencies to be further developed.
Months Four and Five
The intern will continue direct service while focusing on professional competency goals. The intern will present an in-service in the community and begin work on their special project.
Months Six
All projects and assignments will be completed, including a case study, and areas of improvement refined. The intern will complete and submit the special project 2 week prior to completion of the internship. The last week, the music therapy supervisor and director will complete an internship evaluation. The intern will complete an internship site evaluation.
CLINICAL TRAINING EXPERIENCES:
Supervision and Training
- Interns are entitled to 1 hour of direct supervision and training a week with the music therapy supervisor.
Meetings with Intern Director
- Each week, the intern will meet with the internship director to share in observation and feedback.
- The intern is to discuss successes, struggles, questions, and updates.
- Professional competencies will be identified as areas of focus and growth.
- All feedback is constructive and for improving musical and therapeutic skills.
Professional Growth Journal
- The intern will maintain a journal to include experiences, feelings, and insights.
- Practice and improve musical skill and repertoire.
Case Study
- A case study will be completed by the end of internship.
In-Service
- A 30-60 minute in-service will be created and presented to the FMT team and community.
Required Reading
- 2 books/readings will be assigned throughout the internship.
Complete 3 blog posts/email blasts
- The intern will create 3 blog posts.
Administrative Tasks
- The intern will learn and be assigned administrative responsibilities such as daily record keeping, submit insurance claims, invoice scholarships, writing quarterly reports, and business/marketing projects.
Special Project
- This project is of the intern’s choosing, submitted to the internship director in the 8th week of internship, and related to music therapy setting of choice or a program development. Examples include an article suitable for publication, grant proposal, pilot program proposal, topic-specific manual, etc.
INTERNSHIP CANDIDATE CRITERIA
Music Skills
A. General Music Skills
i. Musical repertoire and styles for a variety of population
ii. Must be able to improvise on one instrument
iii. Must be able to write a song with melody and accompaniment
iv. Functional knowledge of music theory
B. Vocal Skills
i. Sing with appropriate pitch, volume, rhythm, articulation, and expression
C. Guitar Skills
i. Must play a basic chord progression in at least 3 keys
ii. Play a variety of musical styles with regards to strumming/fingerpicking
iii. Transpose songs to various keys
D. Piano Skills
i. Must play a basic chord progression in at least 3 keys
ii. Play a variety of musical styles
iii. Transpose songs to various keys
E. Percussion Skills
i. Must keep a steady beat
ii. Must be able to lead a group with regards to play/stop, loud/soft, and fast/slow
Therapeutic Skills
A. Demonstrate knowledge of physical and mental disabilities
B. Influence of music on mood, sensory states, behavior, and motivation
C. Be able to engage a client with verbal skills and music skills
D. Ability to assess and adapt instruments based on clients’ abilities
Professional Skills
A. Effective written and verbal communication skills
B. Ability and willingness to follow directions
C. Seek guidance when needed
D. Accept and implement feedback
E. Demonstrate a professional demeanor and appearance
INTERNSHIP PREREQUISITES (COVERED BY UNIVERSITY)
- Background check
- Health and drug screening
- Professional liability insurance
- Medical insurance
- Proof of immunizations
APPLICATION SUBMISSION
1. Completed Internship Application below (including a link to a video with examples of voice, piano, and guitar skills, and one music therapy intervention)
2. Email Resume to Internship Coordinator Rose Ritter: Rose@FloridaMusicTherapy.com
3. Email Letter of Verification from the music therapy academic director of student’s university to Rose@FloridaMusicTherapy.com
4. Email 2 letters of recommendation, preferably from music therapy professors or practicum supervisors to Rose@FloridaMusicTherapy.com
5. Email one sealed transcript to Rose@FloridaMusicTherapy.com or mail to:
Attn: Courtney Arndt
Florida Music Therapy
PO BOX 120694
Melbourne, FL 32912
ITEMS TO SUBMIT PRIOR TO THE START OF INTERNSHIP (BY UNIVERSITY):
1. Proof of immunizations
2. Proof of health insurance
3. Proof of professional liability insurance
4. Drug screening
5. Criminal background check
