CSUN University News Clippings

Cal State Northridge music therapy student Casey Gregg recently won regional award

(June 18, 2009)

CSUN Music Therapy Student Wins Award Cal State Northridge music therapy student Casey Gregg recently won a regional award from the Western Region American Music Therapy Association for her song, “The Wind and theWater.” Gregg, a junior, was presented with the award at the WRAMTA conference last March in Stockton, Calif. The association seeks to advance public awareness of the benefits of music therapy and increase access to quality music therapy services in a changing world. Gregg’s winning piece was a song she wrote and played on her guitar entitled “The Wind and The Water.” It is a piece that describes the uncontrollable situations human beings face and their need to realize that sometimes there is nothing they can do to stop or alter them. “The chorus says ‘Let the wind and the water take control.’ It’s about not being in control about everything and letting things happen just as they should,” Gregg said. “I was inspired by my experience in transferring from Chapman to CSUN and the journey that I had to take.” Gregg was first introduced to music therapy while in high school when she attended a summer program at Cal Arts, where she studied music composition. “A teacher of mine was very passionate about music therapy. He gave a whole discussion about it and it instantly appealed to me. I thought ‘that is what I want to do,’” said Gregg. Music therapy is the specialized use of music to address the social, communication, emotional, physical, cognitive, sensory and spiritual needs of people of all ages and ability levels. “It is one of the most effective and unique forms of therapy because it uses music and reinforcements through sounds, beats and song lyrics to help someone who has experienced trauma, who is mentally or physically ill and children, especially those suffering from autism,” Gregg said.

Publication: San Fernando Valley Sun