Passages Events
September 28th, 2025 AMTAS Passages 2025 [TIMES EASTERN STANDARD]
10:00 -10:15 am Jam and Connect
10:20 - 11:05 am Student Presentations Zilu Wang
Culture of Spontaneity: Musical Improvisation as an Invitation for Sharing
This presentation is rooted in my personal experiences as an emerging music therapist working in diverse populations and settings. I will share challenges I encountered in navigating different needs and power dynamics between therapist and client, and how the concept of the “creative now” informed my practice. Through examples of shifting musical contexts, building rapport, and using presence to foster group connection, I will illustrate how improvisation can create space for sharing and agency.
Inspired by my internship experiences in improvisational, strength-based, and humanistic approaches, I will reflect on how this work reshaped my understanding of what it means to be a music therapist. At its core, the journey taught me to remain humble, playful, and open—to meet, learn from, and celebrate the many cultures that clients bring into the music room.
11:05 am - 11:50 am Incoming Advisor Presentation: Flor del Cielo Hernandez
11:50 am - 12:00 pm BREAK
12:00pm - 12:50 pm Keynote Speaker: Dr. Seung-A Jung
Creative Methods & Strategies for 21st Century Music Therapy Students: Music as a Pathway to Acculturative Learning
Every time we listen to or play music, we are acculturated through the music experience. In a broad sense, acculturation applies to our everyday life. When the two cultural selves—the client and music therapist— meet and create a music therapy culture, both parties are “acculturated” through co-creating music together within the music therapy phenomenon. Listening to/playing music(s) from a variety of cultures is very important for music therapy students to develop culturally informed awareness, knowledge, and skills. Originally from South Korea and has practiced and taught music therapy for 27 years, the presenter will share creative methods and strategies essential for 21st Century music therapy students.
12:50 pm - 1:15 pm BREAK
1:15 pm - 1:45 pm Music Therapy Trivia
1:45 pm - 2:00 pm Closing Remarks
Door Prizes: Bag of Music Therapy Books and Hand Percussion, Early Childhood Songs Vol. 1, Early Childhood Songs Vol. 2, One Free CBMT Self-Assessment Exam, AMTA Publications from AMTA Bookstore.
10:00 -10:15 am Jam and Connect
10:20 - 11:05 am Student Presentations Zilu Wang
Culture of Spontaneity: Musical Improvisation as an Invitation for Sharing
This presentation is rooted in my personal experiences as an emerging music therapist working in diverse populations and settings. I will share challenges I encountered in navigating different needs and power dynamics between therapist and client, and how the concept of the “creative now” informed my practice. Through examples of shifting musical contexts, building rapport, and using presence to foster group connection, I will illustrate how improvisation can create space for sharing and agency.
Inspired by my internship experiences in improvisational, strength-based, and humanistic approaches, I will reflect on how this work reshaped my understanding of what it means to be a music therapist. At its core, the journey taught me to remain humble, playful, and open—to meet, learn from, and celebrate the many cultures that clients bring into the music room.
11:05 am - 11:50 am Incoming Advisor Presentation: Flor del Cielo Hernandez
11:50 am - 12:00 pm BREAK
12:00pm - 12:50 pm Keynote Speaker: Dr. Seung-A Jung
Creative Methods & Strategies for 21st Century Music Therapy Students: Music as a Pathway to Acculturative Learning
Every time we listen to or play music, we are acculturated through the music experience. In a broad sense, acculturation applies to our everyday life. When the two cultural selves—the client and music therapist— meet and create a music therapy culture, both parties are “acculturated” through co-creating music together within the music therapy phenomenon. Listening to/playing music(s) from a variety of cultures is very important for music therapy students to develop culturally informed awareness, knowledge, and skills. Originally from South Korea and has practiced and taught music therapy for 27 years, the presenter will share creative methods and strategies essential for 21st Century music therapy students.
12:50 pm - 1:15 pm BREAK
1:15 pm - 1:45 pm Music Therapy Trivia
1:45 pm - 2:00 pm Closing Remarks
Door Prizes: Bag of Music Therapy Books and Hand Percussion, Early Childhood Songs Vol. 1, Early Childhood Songs Vol. 2, One Free CBMT Self-Assessment Exam, AMTA Publications from AMTA Bookstore.
