Since she became the first music therapist for West Music in Urbandale, Jenny has taken the area by storm! We knew Jenny was a good egg when we hired her but had no idea how amazing she truly is! While we initially thought it would take some time to fill her caseload, she had found enough work to keep her busy (and then some) within just a few months!
Jenny started the SoundReach choir and had 7 people show up to the first semester. She now has 20-30 people who regularly attend and some semesters are upwards of 40 people! Jenny’s passion for music therapy is evident in everything she does! From learning Vietnamese songs for a Vietnamese patient who spoke no English, to being with patients as they are actively dying, Jenny quickly creates rapport and tries to learn whatever she can to make the session a beneficial one for everyone involved. Jenny is also very involved with the Iowa Chapter of Music Therapy and the Iowa Task Force for Music Therapy Recognition, and you can often find her at the Capitol advocating for music therapy licensure.
She is a team player and goes above and beyond to keep her fellow music therapists engaged and to recognize their achievements, so we are so happy to be able to recognize her and all of her hard work!
Congratulations Jenny and thanks for all you do!
As told by Kelly L. Carlson, MA, MT-BC
Music Therapist-Board Certified
Aaron Hansen is an experienced K-6 General Music educator, passionate about bringing music to life through the Orff Approach. He holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Music Education from the University of Northern Iowa. Aaron has completed comprehensive Orff Teacher Training, including three levels at the University of St. Thomas and an Orff Master Class. His dedication to the Orff method took him to the Summer International Course at the Orff Institute in Salzburg, Austria. Aaron also shares his expertise by teaching movement at various Orff Teacher Training Courses and conducting workshops for local Orff Chapters.
