During the week of April 28, over a dozen students from the Barton Music Department had the opportunity to visit with music professionals from different fields and ask questions via Zoom as an enrichment activity for their applied instrumental music lessons. The guests included University of Kansas Director of Music Therapy and Clinical Music Therapist Dr. Cindy Colwell, KU Associate Professor of Music Education Dr. Jacob Dakon and Children’s Mercy Kansas City Hospital Neurologic Music Therapist and Internship Director Kim Robertson. 

Barton Director of Instrumental Activities Dr. Luis Palacios said it’s important to showcase different professional scenarios for students outside of, or in addition to, working as a professional performer. 

“This was a wonderful opportunity for students to visit with professionals in various fields and get some information on options for when they complete their time at Barton,” he said. “They were all very excited to ask questions about the day-to-day lives of music professionals.” 

Freshman Faith Whited, who is particularly interested in Music Therapy, said hearing from music professionals in the workforce was very helpful. 

“It was very informative and gave me a new perspective on my career options after finishing college,” she said. For more information, contact Palacios at 620-792-9396 or palaciosl@bartonccc.edu.