Music therapy internship

• Completed application 
• Two letters of recommendation
• Resume
• Interview and skill demonstration (see application for additional details)

Applicants that are accepted into the internship program will be required to adhere to a routine background check prior to or at the start of internship. 

RGV Music Therapy and Wellness Center, LLC (RGV-MTWC) is the first and only center for music therapy in the Rio Grande Valley and we are proud to offer our services to the community. We are dedicated to advocating for music therapy services in South Texas and making music and recreational therapy accessible to members of our community by pioneering clinical programs across multiple populations and all areas of the RGV. We currently serve a wide range of populations, listed below, and our patients are located between Roma and Brownsville, Texas. 

We provide both in-facility and home health services to our patients, depending on the population. We also provide services at contracted facilities including skilled nursing facilities, in-patient hospice care, and educational facilities for special education (post high school graduation). RGV-MTWC has a strong focus on specialized therapists and currently offers music therapy, recreational therapy, and behavioral support services. 

We are currently located directly in the mid-valley, and our music therapists travel up to an hour and thirty minutes to provide sessions to patients who are homebound. 

Advocacy and community outreach are at the forefront of our mission as we strive to educate the RGV about clinical music therapy services. We also provide free community wellness events on the second Saturday of each month (open to all ages) to further increase the resources and alternative healthcare options for our community. 

RGV Music Therapy and Wellness Center, LLC (RGV-MTWC) is the first and only center for music therapy in the Rio Grande Valley and we are proud to offer our services to the community. We are dedicated to advocating for music therapy services in South Texas and making music and recreational therapy accessible to members of our community by pioneering clinical programs across multiple populations and all areas of the RGV. We currently serve a wide range of populations, listed below, and our patients are located between Roma and Brownsville, Texas. 

We provide both in-facility and home health services to our patients, depending on the population. We also provide services at contracted facilities including skilled nursing facilities, in-patient hospice care, and educational facilities for special education (post high school graduation). RGV-MTWC has a strong focus on specialized therapists and currently offers music therapy, recreational therapy, behavioral support, and community wellness events.

We are currently located directly in the mid-valley, and our music therapists travel up to an hour and thirty minutes to provide sessions to patients who are homebound. 

Advocacy and community outreach are at the forefront of our mission as we strive to educate the RGV about clinical music therapy services. We also provide free community wellness events on the second Saturday of each month (open to all ages) to further increase the resources and alternative healthcare options for our community. 

• Children and adults with special needs (in facility and home health settings)
• Children and adults in mental health and behavioral health programs (in facility)
• Individuals admitted into hospice care (in facility and home health settings)
• Veterans with PTSD (in facility) 
• Group geriatrics (In-facility)

*Some of these programs may be impacted due to COVID-19

Our internship program is structured to provide music therapy students with opportunities to grow in multiple settings. Our mission is to create a well-rounded environment to prepare interns for the professional setting by exploring the implementation of music therapy for a variety of populations. We hope that interns are able to confidently identify their passion within the field throughout their placements. 

We strongly believe that interns will be successful when provided detailed, outlined goals along with a reasonable time frame to achieve these goals. For this reason, we have included a structured list of requirements to be completed throughout the course of the internship through a combination of assigned readings, assignments, and goal planning. Our goal is to guide interns in developing important skills required to work as a music therapist including time management, effective planning, assessment and implementation of treatment plans, and self reflection. 

We feel that interns achieve gradual independence in the professional setting when given opportunities to observe, co-facilitate, and then lead sessions. We aim to create an environment where students can be provided constructive feedback from music therapy staff and feel confident in their own abilities when leading sessions independently. 

We seek to build on the foundations that were given to each student within their degree program, including musical and clinical skills. Interns will be required to improve functional guitar, voice, and piano skills in addition to learning a third instrument. By the end of the internship, interns will memorize over 40 songs in a range of genres/styles. 

We offer music therapy services in both individual and group settings. In addition, the services are provided at RGV-MTWC, in patient homes, and at contracted facilities depending on the source of reimbursement. 

Interns will learn to implement and document treatment appropriately, according to the needs identified by each setting and for each patient. Interns will also be exposed to documentation for Medicaid waivers and other funding sources.

Interns will be assigned monthly readings and assignments to supplement the learning experience and provide additional resources for our clinical setting. 

At the end of the third month of internship, interns will be evaluated to determine progress in their placements and areas for development in the second half of internship. Midterm requirements include a written evaluation, outline of final projects, and musical demonstration (memorized songs). 

At the end of the sixth month, interns will be evaluated as they prepare to complete the  training program. Final requirements include a written evaluation, completed final projects (2), and musical demonstration (memorized songs and third instrument proficiency). 

"The Rio Grande Valley is located at the southernmost point of Texas. At the meeting point of Mexico and the USA, the 4-county region called the Valley is one of the fastest growing areas of the United States.

The Valley is one of the richest places in the country in history and tradition. Its culture and identity is based on adaptation to movement and change, perseverance, and resiliency. As a learner, the Valley is an ideal area in which to live, combining a modern infrastructure, multicultural population, rich history and cultural heritage, and a beautiful natural environment with an excellent quality of life, reasons why UTRGV is becoming a major international education destination. The Valley also enjoys a vigorous and growing economy with a high standard of living that has one of the lowest costs of living in the country.  What Winter Texans, Spring Breakers and families looking for fun in the sun most associate with our area is one of the best beaches of not just the Gulf of Mexico but the USA: South Padre Island.

The region offers a wonderful subtropical climate, with sunny weather and warm-to-hot temperatures prevailing all year long, including excellent facilities for sport, leisure and shopping, and a varied night-life. Plus, the natural beauty of the Valley is one of a kind. Beyond our beautiful beaches and palm trees, there are wildlife preserves that are international hot spots for birders and others who enjoy watching butterfly, amphibians, reptiles and small mammals inhabiting the area. The area supports one of the best sites for deep sea fishing and, for the past 77 years, has hosted the Texas International Fishing Tournament. The region features abundant historical and cultural sites, honoring traditions of military and public service as well as the shared ties with Mexico.  And, the people of the Valley are famous for their warmth and friendly dispositions, making it a welcoming environment for all. Combine the hospitality with the more relaxed pace of life, safe neighborhoods, and emphasis on community involvement, inclusion and education make the Valley a place where life is to be enjoyed and lived to its fullest."

-UTRGV, School of Medicine

Interns are required to complete a mid-term and final skill demonstration which includes memorized repertoire, musical proficiencies,  and two special projects. 

Hours required: 1,000 minimum (Additional hours may be completed as needed to obtain a total of 1200 hours of clinical training required to obtain certification.)

Intern schedules are individualized to each intern. Schedules will be adjusted two times throughout the course of the internship: during orientation and after midterm. The settings assigned to each intern will be determined by the previous experience of practicums and observations. Placements will be tailored to accommodate the specific learning objectives of each intern.

Housing and meals during the internship will not be provided by RGV-MTWC. All interns will be expected to independently seek housing and meals throughout the internship. 

A total stipend of $3,000 will be provided to each intern. Interns will receive $250 on the 1st and 15th of every month, with the first stipend received in the next pay period of the start date (i.e. If the intern starts after the first of the month, the first stipend will be issued on the 15th). We do not reimburse mileage in addition to the stipend amount. Direct deposit or checks will be utilized at the convenience of each intern.

Each intern will be required to provide their own transportation to and from the center or established facilities . When providing home-health services, interns will be transported by the supervisor. Interns will also be required to provide proof of valid driver’s license and insurance for liability purposes.