Avery with blonde hair standing on the left and amy with black hair standing on the right in front of a wooded area.

Meet our Music Therapy Interns

Amy wearing a white shirt with maroon and white striped pants standing in front of a wooded area.

The Star Center Music Therapy Department has been busy this summer with the addition of two new interns, Amy Wigginton and Avery Hartman, to their team. Amy is from Flower Mound, Texas and Avery is from Nashville, Tennessee. Amy has two siblings, one older sister and one younger brother, and Avery has one older sister.  Amy completed her course work in music therapy at Mississippi University for Women (MUW) in Columbus, MS, and Avery completed her course work at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.

Outside of class, Amy was involved in Jazz Band, Mu Theta Chi (MUW Music Therapy Club), and choral ensembles. Avery stayed busy serving as the president of Sigma Alpha Iota her last year and participating in Belmont American Music Therapy Association for Students and College of Visual and Performing Arts Dean’s Advisory Council.

Amy was drawn to music therapy because it combines her two passions, which are music and helping others. Avery’s love for the science behind how our brains react to music sparked her interest in music.  Both Amy and Avery selected STAR as their internship site due to having the opportunity to learn and serve a variety of client populations. One goal that Amy has for her internship at STAR is to improve her keyboard skills. A goal Avery set for herself during internship is to gain more confidence in leading sessions.

Some of Amy’s hobbies include teaching and participating in yoga, songwriting, recording and painting. One of her unique/quirky habits is that she will randomly start speaking with a British accent. In three words, Amy described herself as kind, creative, and silly.

Avery’s hobbies include learning calligraphy, cross-stitching, baking, hiking, and going to concerts and musicals. One of her unique/quirky habits is that she still uses her turn signal when no other cars are around. Her friends used to laugh at her when she would use it in the giant empty parking lot, when they would meet at school. In three words, Avery described herself as caring, insightful, and focused.

Amy’s favorite song from her childhood/teenage years that she still rocks out to when nobody else is listening is “Once Upon a December” from Anastasia the movie. Her first concert was Creedence Clearwater Revival at Six Flags with her parents. Amy’s favorite vinyl she has ever owned is The Last Waltz. When it comes to genre of music Amy enjoys listening to a little bit of everything. Amy has always wanted to learn to play is the accordion.

Avery’s favorite songs from her childhood/teenage years that she still rocks out to when nobody else is listening is anything Jonas Brothers and One Direction’s songs, “Burnin’ Up” and “What Makes your Beautiful.” Her first concert was Hannah Montana and The Jonas Brothers. Avery’s favorite album she has ever owned is Little Neon Limelight by Houndmouth. When it comes to genre of music she enjoys listening to Indie Folk music. An instrument Avery has always wanted to learn to play is the violin.

If you want more information about the STAR Center’s music therapy internship, click this link http://star-center.org/internships/ or contact Chrissy Watson at chrissy.watson@star-center.org.


About the Author : Katlin Ross

NOTE: This person is a past employee or intern of the STAR Center. Their name and authorship is preserved for posterity. Originally from Vancleave, Mississippi, Katlin E. Ross graduated from Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, Mississippi with a Bachelor of Music Therapy in 2017. She completed her clinical internship at Star Center, Inc. in Jackson, Tennessee in May 2017 and received her MT-BC credential in March 2018. Katlin joined the Star team full time in November 2017.

0 Comment

Send a Comment

Your email address will not be published.