Sigma Alpha Iota

38 Fall 2018 PAN PIPES 2019 SAI Annual Awards Philanthropies LETTERS FROM RECIPIENTS I cannot thank you enough for the honor of being chosen for this year's Music Therapy Scholarship. The opportunities I have been given for friendship, musicianship, and professional furtherance due to being a member of this fraternity are innumerable. This scholarship will let me take my education in music therapy a step further, and help me in my professional and academic goals. With its help, I am able to participate in a practicum opportunity at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, TX. I am under the supervision of the music therapist who works in the renal unit. The hospital/medical setting is a wonderful learning experience, and the few sessions I have been a part of have already opened my eyes to many new considerations. My passion for this field only grows with the time I spend in it, and I am so excited to see what I can learn and improve upon during this semester of practicum. I have attached a photo of some sisters and me at national conference this past year. The conference was focused on celebrating diversity and spreading awareness about and within our profession. I think furthering ideals like these are so important, especially with the rate of growth this field is undergoing. I am thankful for AMTA (American Music Therapy Association) and its efforts to provide these learning and sharing opportunities for professionals and students alike. As the end of my music therapy education is approaching, I am eager to see where this field will take me. I hope to start a career working with children, with adults in a psychiatric facility, or in a medical setting. There are so many ways that music can affect and benefit different people and that, to me, is what music therapy is all about. Thank you again for your support of music therapy and its students. I am so proud to be a part of this organization. — Ariel Scogin T hank you for selecting me as a recipient of the SAI Summer Music Scholarship. This scholarship allowed me the opportunity to attend the University of Michigan (UM) Band Conducting and Pedagogy Workshop that occurred on June 16-21, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Participation in the UM workshop gave me the chance to meet and work with such wonderful teachers, musicians, and conductors from all over the country. I was able to rekindle old friendships and form new ones. I even met two fellow SAI sisters- -one from Arizona and one from South Dakota! I had an incredible week learning from master teachers Michael Haithcock, Courtney Snyder, and Jerry Schwiebert. Much of the week focused on expanding our awareness of our body's availability and full range of motion. In order to be expressive, the body must be available to move. I learned to identify tension in my body while conducting, and I am taking steps to notice it and release it in order to move more fluidly. Another big concept of the week was opening our focus. On the podium, I have the tendency to worry too much about what I'm doing and trying to do "a good job," both of which take me away from connecting with the people in front of me. I am working to let go of my insecurities in order to better serve the music and the musicians with whom I am working. These are just two of MANY transformative concepts that I took away from this experience. I cannot wait to get back in front of an ensemble to put all that I learned into practice. — Carolina Perez From left to right: Ariel Scogin, and fellow SAI members Veronica Tienda and Zoe Judkins Fall 2019 38 PAN PIPES

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