We are excited to introduce you to our newest team member, Jennifer!
Hello everyone! My name is Jennifer Blair and I am the newest board-certified music therapist on Keynote’s team. I am very excited to get on the road and start making music with Keynote clients! From a love of singing at an early age, to singing in choirs in high school, and then as a voice major in my undergrad program, music has always played a huge role in my life. I came to music therapy after seeing the many therapeutic benefits that music has, and a growing passion to use my skills to impact the community around me.
My undergrad education began at what is now Bethany Global University, where I studied cross-cultural communications. This opportunity brought me to doing an internship in the heart of Russia for almost a year where I studied language and culture. When I returned, I transferred to North Central University, in Minneapolis, where I became a vocal performance major. In the years following, I was fortunate enough to travel to countries such as Ukraine, Indonesia, and China working as a volunteer. I also had the privilege to focus a season of my life on raising a family. Over time, my interest in the therapeutic benefits of music grew and I discovered music therapy as a profession, so I enrolled in the Augsburg University Master’s program in music therapy. I became a board-certified music therapist, and am currently working on my master’s thesis.
My clinical experiences have allowed me to work with a variety of clients of all ages. I had the pleasure of interning with an amazing team of music therapists at Allina Health Hospice and Palliative Care, and have also had opportunities to work with adults with dementia, young children who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, and patients and families dealing with cancer. One of my most adventurous opportunities in music therapy, was to travel abroad and work with children and adolescents at a pediatric burn recovery camp in China.
As a music therapist, I have a strong passion to use my music therapy training to serve populations with high risk factors for experiencing poverty, abuse, and neglect. I especially love working with young children, clients in memory care, and hospice. No matter who I am working with, I am passionate about using music to bring comfort and healing to the individuals, families, and communities that I serve.