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I believe many of you are interested in listening to the stories of professional music therapists and getting some ideas to develop a more unique career that fits into your lifestyle. Let me introduce a Japanese music therapist, Keiko Shiokawa, who studied in the U.S. and works in Japan now. She is going to share her story for us.Kumi: Hello, Keiko. I would like to ask you some questions about your career. You have been practicing neurologic music therapy (NMT) in Japan, but where did you get your training?Keiko: I attended NMT training offered at Centre for Biomedical Research for Music in Colorado State University.Kumi: What was the most impressive class in your program?Keiko: Psychology of Music - it provided me with much information to think critically, plan sessions, and promote music therapy. I even wish we could take a series of psychology of music classes from the first year in college. I took it in my last year, but I wish I had gotten the information earlier in order to deepen my perspectives toward music therapy in my first year.Kumi: How did you find your current job? It must have been difficult to find a job if you were in other country.Keiko: I found a job opening published in mail sent to everybody on the mailing list of the Japanese Music Therapy Students and Professionals (JMTSP).Kumi: Have you had any difficulties working in a country that is different from where you studied? Please tell us if there are any adjustments you had to make.Keiko: I have not felt so much difficulties working in Japan after being trained in the United States. A little thing I now miss is casual and productive communication that I had at my university and internship site. I so enjoyed talking with and learning from colleagues, supervisors, and even CEOs with cups of coffee. We cannot spend plenty of time for meetings, and expressing of opinions in the “public” is a big deal for Japanese workers.Kumi: I believe the experience of studying abroad helped you broaden your view as a person. Do you have any moments you feel the experience helps you to work as a music therapist?Keiko: The first thing I appreciate about my education is a well-thought training program for music therapists in the United States. I was ready to write SOAP notes, plan effective sessions quickly, find appropriate resources (and I can read English resources!), etc. I was ready to work as a professional when I got the music therapy certification. Also, I appreciate the humanistic atmosphere at my university and internship in Oregon. During my stay there, I felt I was accepted by people, and I learned how to accept clients. There were so many music therapists embodying Unconditional Positive Regard! In my hospital, our patients recover from cerebral vascular accidents, but they need psychological support, not only rehabilitation for ADL skills. I would never have been able to be sensitive for those needs and support them in a psychological way if I had not met Oregon music therapists.Kumi: There are many future music therapists who are thinking of studying abroad or working in another country. Do you have something you want to tell them?Keiko: Staying in another country and learning another language was really, really hard, but it provided me irreplaceable experiences to grow as a person and as a music therapist. I recommend searching for any opportunities if you are interested in studying and practicing music therapy in another country.Kumi: Thank you very much, Keiko!! I’m sure some students have already started surfing the Internet to book air tickets!Kumi Sato, JapanWFMT Student Delegate for Western Pacific
