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In 2008, Mahidol University, College of Music hosted the first-ever Thailand Music Therapy Forum. There are very few formally-trained music therapists currently working in Thailand, though there is a growing interest in the profession. The College of Music at Mahidol University about 15 kilometers outside of Bangkok, is in the process of creating a Master’s degree program in Music Therapy. In a partnership with the University of Kansas Music Therapy program, US students are able to study abroad at the Mahidol University, Salaya campus, and provide clinical services to both children and adults in two Bangkok-area hospitals. In summer 2009, five music therapy students spent one-month in this study abroad experience. When asked about how this experience changed them students reported:“I was able to not only visit another country, but I was also able to interact with the people and experience a new way of life and a new way of thought. At the same time, I also feel like I made a contribution by my participation in the presentations to the students at Mahidol and through the clinical experiences at the rehabilitation center.”“I am much more patient with myself and others, I appreciate and feel privileged to be educated as a student. I AM SO GLAD I WENT ON THIS JOURNEY WHEN I DID.”“I know that I have changed as a result of my experience because I have a newfound motivation. In Thailand, the students saw an education as a privilege. I returned to the U.S. ready to learn and ready to take advantage of the education that I am receiving. I want to continue advocating our profession and our association to current and prospective students. I am finding it hard to sleep in because I feel like I have so much to do! While abroad, we were always on the go. We were experiencing and learning new things everyday. I came home wanting to continue this journey professionally and personally.”“I am so thankful to have had this opportunity. By completing practicum work in Thailand I have further honed my skills professionally. The experience also pushed me in another direction in where I want to work clinically.”Dena Register, Ph.D., MT-BC, Associate Professor of Music Education and Music Therapy, University of Kansas, U.S.A.Please contact Dr. Register for more information: register@ku.eduThe website for the College of Music at Mahidol is: http://www.music.mahidol.ac.th/Photo credit: http://www.music.mahidol.ac.th/en/about/about_overview.php
