Elizabethtown College Music Therapy major Nicole Pinnella ’24 is working alongside faculty mentor, Director of Music Therapy Emily Frantz to spread the benefits of music therapy and to positively impact the lives of local veterans as part of Etown’s Summer Creative Arts and Research Program (SCARP).
Pinnella and Frantz have worked closely with veterans at the nearby Masonic Village Elizabethtown, listening to their stories and helping to uplift their day through music therapy. Music therapy goes beyond just the music, as Pinnella also specializes in psychology and neuroscience. The ultimate goal of this project is to educate veterans on what music therapy is, showing the benefits it can provide and how they can access it.
Pinnella will be performing a concert for veterans at Masonic Village Elizabethtown on Nov. 3 to further spread the benefits of music therapy.
Title of Research
Sharing the Benefits of Music Therapy with Local Veterans
Student Researcher
Nicole Pinnella ’24 (Music Therapy major)
Faculty Mentor
Emily Frantz, Director of Music Therapy
What are you researching?
Pinnella: Professor Frantz and I will go into the community to advocate for the use of music therapy with veterans and provide veterans with music therapy.
Why did you choose this topic?
Pinnella: I’ve seen how veterans often struggle to rejoin society after they’ve served. Many struggle with mental health issues, substance abuse, homelessness, and physical disabilities. Helping veterans feel understood and cared for is important for their reintegration into civilian life. Providing services such as music therapy can help veterans meet an array of goals in a noninvasive and often fun way.
What is the most interesting aspect of this research?
Pinnella: The most interesting part of this research is hearing each veteran’s individual story.
How has your faculty mentor helped you?
Pinnella: Professor Frantz has always supported me and my goals. Fall of 2022 was when I first went to her and said “I want to normalize music therapy in the VA” and now we are taking the first steps to accomplish that goal together.
Hear from the faculty mentor – Emily Frantz
“I was thrilled when Nicole approached me about being a mentor for her project this summer,” Frantz said. “It is a wonderful opportunity for her to learn and grow without the demands of the rigorous semester course load. I am grateful for the opportunity for a scholarship provided by the SCARP program. I enjoyed my weekly check-in meetings with Nicole and our in-person work these past weeks. This is my first time serving as a mentor for the program, and I am very excited to learn the application process along with Nicole.”