Features
N the Red
Laura Russell
2009 graduate works as musical therapist Ben McHenry
mchenben000@hsestudents.org
O
ver 1,000 students are involved in the performing arts. For some of these students, the performing arts may lead to a college major or a career in the musical field, as was the case for 2009 alumna Laura Russell. However, she pursued a more non-traditional musical career, as a musical therapist at Fogerty Musical Therapy. Russell was a musically involved student at school, in marching band, winter percussion, choir and the pit orchestra for the musicals. As a senior, Russell participated in the orchestra pit with her younger sister Alice, which is a particularly fond memory. Certain staff members also left a positive imprint on Russell’s life. “Mr. Kunz, Mr. Kohler and Mr. Johnson made big impacts in my life,” Russell said. “I am much obliged to them for their patience with me as I navigated my teenage years.” Following high school, Russell attended the University of Akron to pursue a Bachelor of Music Degree in Percussion Performance, but felt that this degree did not suit her passion. “I was really missing the community service work I had done when I had been in Girl Scouts and 4-H,” Russell said. “During this time, I had started to feel selfish because rather than playing a piece because I wanted to share its beauty with others, I was just playing music to boost my own ego. I had started to lose sight of why I loved music so much in the fi rst place.” After speaking with a friend about music therapy, Russell realized this is what she was meant to do. So, after completing her percussion performance degree with a psychology minor, she attended the University of Iowa to complete a Music Therapy Equivalency Program, which allowed her to practice music therapy without having to get a degree in the field. While she enjoyed both schools, Russell said that University of Akron was one of the
best times of her life. She developed lasting friendships and met her husband, Thomas. They just welcomed a daughter, Felicity, this past Halloween. Today, Russell works at Fogerty Music Therapy in Bloomington, and she works with people of all ages with developmental disabilities, as well as with older adults with dementia. “If I am working with someone with Autism Spectrum Disorder, it’s likely they are working on social skills,” Russell said. “We may work on making eye contact and taking turns in music games. However, if I’m working with older adults with dementia, it’s likely that we are working on preserving the memories they have, which may be singing and listening to their favorite songs.” Outside of music therapy, there are numerous activities and passions that Russell enjoys, including travelling, anything Disney-related and spending time with her family. Russell describes her job as a very rewarding one that keeps her motivated to continue helping others. “The clients I work with are what keep me going each day,” Russell said. “Just to see someone make a small amount of progress on a skill that they’ve been working on for years is extremely rewarding for me. I’m able to look at that person and say I helped them. It’s a labor of love; there are few things I’d rather be doing.”
Laura Russell conducts a music therapy session with a young boy by identifying musical instruments. Photo used with permission of Laura Russell.
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