Marietta College’s Edward E. MacTaggart Department of Music and the Don ’81 and Leslie Straub Ritter ’85 Music Therapy Program are excited to announce that they are offering two music therapy opportunities that are open to the public in October.
Both events are free of charge.
On Tuesday, October 9th from 6:00-7:00 p.m., there will be a music therapy session provided for area veterans. Raquel Ravaglioli, Director of Music Therapy, will be providing a one-hour session in the Music Therapy facilities at McKinney Hall, 508 Putnam St.
Music therapy is a clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program (AMTA).
Research has established that music therapy may be a useful tool to reduce symptoms and improve functioning among individuals with trauma exposure and PTSD. Group drumming has also been shown to reduce some symptoms of PTSD, increase a sense of openness, togetherness, belonging, sharing, closeness, connectedness, and intimacy, as well as achieving non-intimidating access to traumatic memories, facilitating an outlet for rage, and regaining a sense of self-control.
On Tuesday, October 23rd, Dr. Noah Potvin, assistant professor of music therapy at Duquesne University, will give a lecture on the practice, process and methodology of music therapy from 7:00-9:00 p.m. This lecture will familiarize the public about the profession of music therapy in an attainable and practical approach. This lecture is open to the public and is free of charge and it will be held at the College’s Band Rehearsal Hall at 208 Third St. This location is handicapped accessible and a parking lot is adjacent to the building.
Following the lecture, there will be a question and answer opportunity with Potvin and a reception will be held following. His expertise is in end-of-life care settings. His doctoral dissertation focuses on developing a music therapy model of resiliency development in pre-bereaved hospice caregivers. He presently serves as the Associate Editor-Communications for Music Therapy Perspectives, one of two peer-reviewed journals produced by AMTA.
“These two public presentations are an incredible way for our new music therapy program to connect with the Marietta and the Mid-Ohio Valley communities,” said Marshall C. Kimball, Music Department Chairman. “Many people are not aware of what music therapy is and there is much confusion about how it works. This is an opportunity to meet Raquel Ravaglioli, our new Director of Music Therapy at Marietta College, and to get a better understanding of music therapy from Dr. Potvin. We hope the community will come out and find out more about the value of music therapy and what it actually is.”