I t is perfect harmony. The song of an experienced professional passing what he knows to undergraduate students who, in turn, pass their new skills on to others.

Together, they use music to calm, soothe and entertain the elderly at Carlyle Place in Macon, helping them recollect forgotten words and memories. Each student benefits from a mentor’s experience but also from the knowledge passed down from other interns.

This provides invaluable opportunity to learn from someone else’s perspective, insight and abilities––one Georgia College student to another.

“There aren’t many internship programs around the country, especially in the southeastern region. I felt passionately about creating more opportunities for students,” said Johnathan Moon, who got his degree in music therapy at Georgia College in 2015 with a minor in math, and who’s now pursuing a master’s in music therapy.

“I created both internship programs that I’ve run,” he said. “I’m constantly learning from my interns. It’s been such a wonderful experience of learning for everyone.”

As an undergraduate, Moon completed his own internships at Carlyle. He worked there two years after graduation, then moved to a job at The Glen at Lake Oconee before returning to Carlyle Place in 2020 as music therapist and outreach coordinator.

This summer, Moon supervised three Georgia College music majors at the retirement community. Each joined the group at varying stages for a six-month long practicum. One senior, Starr Batchelor, just finished her internship. Senior Ashley Newkirk of Woodstock is in the midst of hers, and senior Taj-Juan Bivens of Tifton is beginning his.

As leading intern, Batchelor showed Newkirk the ropes, including her in activities as an equal participant. Likewise, Newkirk is now guiding Bivens.

While the first part of the internship is “mostly watching,” Moon encourages trainees to lead group sessions as soon as they can. He creates an individualized plan with each intern, setting goals to meet professional competencies before the board exam and entering the workforce.

“Each person has different experiences that make them who they are as a musician, a clinician and a person,” Moon said. “What I learn from my interns is very eye-opening. They may try something new and different that’s really effective. Or they might initiate a positive response that was unexpected from my personal experience with a resident.”

At Carlyle Place, the elderly live in independent cottages or memory care, assisted living and skilled-nursing communities. Each senior citizen has distinct needs. Moon teaches undergrads to document the needs of their clients, then create individual treatment.

Moon and his team sometimes pull from other practices like tai chi, yoga and movement to music. Musical workouts help clients regain rhythm, motor skills and longer attention spans. Music is a redirection tool too, Moon said, reducing agitation and anxiety.

Interns design and lead music games like Music Jeopardy, Musical Pictionary, Name That Tune and SINGO. They incorporate dancing, balloon volleyball and walking-in-place to work on a range of motion and strengthen muscles. They also lead winddown sessions that include meditation, stretching and deep breathing.

Music therapy can also be specialized to help residents with relaxation, pain relief, meditation, tinnitus relief and more.

Music can be a remarkable therapy, especially with clients who have dementia. The disease takes away brain function but music reactivates. Newkirk notes one client, who struggles to communicate verbally but sings every word perfectly during music sessions.

“As music therapists, we utilize the power of music to retrain and rewire people’s brains to help them regain speech, relearn how to walk and more,” she said. “I’ve learned to think on my toes and adapt session plans on-the-spot. I never know what my residents are feeling that day. I go in with a general idea and my toolbox of interventions, so I can meet them where they are.”

Interns also have an individualized midterm and final project. Each one must develop and implement a weeklong plan of activities and events at Carlyle Place. This can include building ukuleles to play, painting or making birdhouses to music, games and drumming groups.

Moon is careful to find each student’s special interest and help them utilize that skill. Batchelor’s interested in aromatherapy. So, he encouraged her to give a lecture and implement it in sessions. Newkirk is passionate about dementia care. So, Moon’s helping her organize a presentation for classmates on campus.

“John is a wonderful supervisor,” Newkirk said. “I’ve learned so much from him already. He gives very constructive feedback, and he’s open to our feedback, as well. John puts in the extra time and effort to make sure each intern receives the education and experience they’re looking for.”

Supervising interns is a management lesson for Moon too. He’s learned to process information out loud and ask questions. This prompts interns to problem solve and confront issues head-on.

He has enjoyed this so much he’s considering education as a profession.
   
 “Supervising interns is my favorite part of the job,” he said. “Honestly, watching the students grow in their skills, take feedback, apply it and make progress is the most rewarding.”