Guest Lecturer to Share Advantages of Music Therapy

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Hope Young

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Registered music therapist Hope Young has come to campus to give a guest lecture on the use of music as a source of healing and therapy for individuals of all ages. Young’s visit will include a public lecture at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall of the Fine Arts Center. She will also speak to several classes.

“Music therapy often has unparalleled results in treating a variety of health issues,” said Jann Knighten, assistant visiting professor in the Department of Music in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. “From pain and stress management to emotional and physical rehabilitation, music therapy has shown measurable results. And you don’t even have to a musical person to benefit from it.”

Music therapy was one of the techniques used in treating former Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords following a brain injury from a gunshot wound. The Sigma Omicron chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity chose to sponsor Young’s visit as their spring service project.

“The students decided that they wanted to bring someone to campus with an interdisciplinary appeal,” said Knighten, who also serves as the fraternity’s faculty sponsor. “Music therapy is a subject that not only applies to psychology and music, but also to counseling, gerontology, early childhood education, social work, human development, physical and cognitive therapy, the list goes on and on.”

The Wednesday night lecture is free and open to the public. Parking is available in the Stadium Drive Parking Facility, just across the street from the Fine Arts Center.

An interview with Young may be heard on the February 21 edition of Ozarks at Large on KUAF 91.3 FM. The program will air at noon and 7 p.m.