Music Therapy

Music therapy is a standard of care in the nation's leading children's hospitals that consists of using music therapeutically to address physical, psychological, cognitive and social functioning for patients of all ages.

The MSU Community Music School-Detroit engages three part-time, highly qualified music therapists to deliver services to the City of Detroit: Dr. Jody Conradi Stark, Danielle Saval, and Rita Douglas. All three are Board Certified by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (MT-BC). 

Music therapists provided care for patients and caregivers both on site at CMSD and in all units of Children’s Hospital of Detroit. Individualized treatment is provided bedside for patients to reduce stress, anxiety and pain, promote comfort and relaxation, provide opportunities for self-expression, support developmental skills, reinforce academic skills, provide experiences that support memory making, legacy building and bereavement, promote ability to cope with hospitalization, and provide opportunities for positive interactions between patients and their families.

CMSD Music Therapy Options

Special needs that often are effectively treated with music therapy techniques include:

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder

  • Those typically arising from medical illnesses

  • Developmental disabilities

  • Physical impairments

  • Emotional disturbances

  • Sensory impairments

  • Specific learning disabilities

  • Aging

Register

Musical talent or training are not prerequisites for music therapy. Experiences are geared to the specific functioning levels, interests, and clinical needs of the persons enrolled in the therapy. Treatment is provided by professional therapists who have training, experience, and certification in the field of music therapy.

Clients wishing to enroll in music therapy at CMS-D can fill out the following form, and someone from our admin team will be in touch!

CMSD Music Therapy Team

Jody Stark

Jody Conradi Stark, Ph.D., MT-BC is a board-certified music therapist with over 35 years of clinical experience with various populations, including psychiatric, cognitively impaired, autism spectrum disorder, pre-primary impaired, at-risk children/youth, veterans, medical (pediatrics and oncology), Alzheimer’s Disease, and hospice. She is Part-Time Lecturer and Music Therapy Clinical Supervisor for Eastern Michigan University’s Music Therapy Program, Site Director of Music Therapy Clinical Services, Michigan State University Community Music School- Detroit, and President of Creative Arts Therapies, Inc., a company she started in 1991 that provides contractual music, dance-movement, and art therapy services to agencies and individuals throughout Southeastern Michigan. Dr. Stark has worked with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra since 2016, facilitating Outreach and Engagement programs between DSO musicians and individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease or mental health challenges.

Stark received her Bachelor of Arts in Music Therapy from Colorado State University and a Master of Arts in Communication and Theatre Arts – Arts Administration from Eastern Michigan University. Stark earned her Ph.D. in Music Education (Music Therapy cognate) at Michigan State University. Her dissertation study, published in 2012, is “Perceived Benefits of Group Music Therapy for Breast Cancer Survivors: Mood, Psychosocial Well-Being, and Quality of Life.”

Among other awards, Dr. Stark was named the 2011 Educator of the Year for VSA Michigan: The State Organization on Arts and Disability, and received a 2011 Michigan Youth Arts Touchstone Award. She was also named an Emerging Engagement Scholar for the 2011 National Outreach Scholarship Conference in East Lansing, Michigan. In 2020, she received the Great Lakes Region of the American Music Therapy Association Service Award.

Dr. Stark has served as Chair of the VSA Michigan Southeast Regional Festival Committee since 1997 and was elected to the VSA Michigan (now called Michigan Arts Access) Board of Directors in 2018. She has served as an American Music Therapy Association Assembly Delegate and has presented at the local, state, national, and international levels, including the 11th World Congress of Music Therapy in Brisbane, Australia, and the 15th World Congress of Music Therapy in Tsukuba, Japan.

Danielle Saval headshot

Danielle Saval

Danielle is a board-certified music therapist earning her degree from Eastern Michigan University. She completed her music therapy internship at Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. Currently, she works as a music therapist at the Children's Hospital of Michigan in addition to the Community Music School-Detroit. Danielle believes that music is a healing, human experience that anyone can benefit from.

Rita Douglas

Rita Douglas, MT-BC, is a board-certified music therapist who completed a Second Bachelor's Degree at Eastern Michigan University in 2016. A lifelong musician playing guitar, piano, and hammered dulcimer, Rita combines her love and passion for helping others while working in the physical rehabilitation field with new therapeutic skills acquired studying music therapy. Rita completed clinical training at DMC's Children's Hospital of Michigan and interned at Building Bridges Pediatric Therapy Center. She advocates for people with autism through grassroots efforts to promote inclusion and access to therapies through legislation. Rita practices a humanistic philosophy of care, incorporating the family and other natural support systems. She truly believes in the power of music to change client's lives in an impactful way, helping them reach individual goals and develop to their fullest potential. Currently, Rita provides music therapy and adaptive lessons at MSU Community Music School of Detroit to individuals of all ages.