BOARD-CERTIFIED MUSIC THERAPIST

NG WANG FENG

EDUCATION, CREDENTIALS & SPECIALIZED TRAINING

BOARD-CERTIFIED MUSIC THERAPIST (USA) since 2004
NEUROLOGIC MUSIC THERAPY (NMT) (USA) Fellowship training completed in 2017
MASTER OF MUSIC THERAPY (TEMPLE UNIVERSITY, USA) Incl. coursework at TEACHERS’ COLLEGE, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, USA
BACHELOR OF MUSIC (MUSIC THERAPY), SUMMA CUM LAUDE (ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY, USA)
Trained in MATADOC, GIM (Level 1), Usui Method of Rei-ki I, II

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

ST. ANDREW’S COMMUNITY HOSPITAL [PRINCIPAL MUSIC THERAPIST]

2013-2022
I designed and implemented the Music Therapy program in the inpatient wards: rehabilitation, paediatric, dementia and palliative care and drafted the Standard Operating Procedure for Music Therapy as the pioneering MT here. As part of ongoing advocacy, I gave internal and external in-services about the benefits and evidence of Music Therapy. I deeply enjoyed my collaborations with Occupational, Speech and Physiotherapists and other colleagues over the years. I received the Silver Award at Singapore Health Quality Service Awards 2020, a testimony of “quality care and excellent service to patients.”

ASSOCIATION FOR MUSIC THERAPY SINGAPORE [FOUNDING PRESIDENT]

Beyond my term as the founding president of AMTS (2007-2010), I have continued to support AMTS over the years as a professional member, most significantly to date, by drafting the association’s official documents: the AMTS Code of Ethics and Professional Standards, Professional MT Competencies, MT Curriculum & Training Recommendations. These association documents were formally adopted in 2019-20.

NANYANG ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS [ADJUNCT LECTURER OF MUSIC THERAPY MODULES]

since 2006
Taught introductory Music Therapy modules at Diploma and Bachelor’s levels, and supervised one Bachelor of Music thesis (1^stclass).

ADDITIONAL MUSIC THERAPY WORK EXPERIENCE

I’ve worked with care beneficiaries from various Social Service Agencies serving, including:

-at-risk youth (Beyond Social Services, Melrose Home)
-young and older adults with more focus on physical rehabilitative e.g. maintenance-oriented needs (Muscular Dystrophy Association Singapore, Abilities Beyond Limitations and Expectations)
-individuals with mental health challenges (Singapore Association for Mental Health)
-residents of Bishan Home for the Intellectually Disabled
-children with special needs (Rainbow Centre Balestier School)

I’ve also provided clinical supervision to practicing Music Therapy professionals, to support their practice and professional development for over 10 years.

MT PUBLICATIONS

Vignette “Music Therapy: The art of increasing palliative care patients’ quality of life” in ANGAGE, in-house publication of St. Andrew’s Mission Hospital (SAMH) and Singapore Anglican Community Services (2017)

Review of “The Oxford Handbook of Music Psychology” by Hallam, S., Cross, I., and Thaut, M. in Music and Medicine (2017) (co-author)

“Being Human: Music Therapy” in Art Hats in Renaissance City: Reflections & Aspirations of Four Generations of Art Personalities. Edited by Lee, R. F. L. Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (May’15)

Singapore update in Color of Us: About Inclusion in Imagine (2015)

“Developing Music Therapy as a Professional Allied Healthcare Discipline: The Task Ahead for the Association for Music Therapy, Singapore” in Music and Medicine (2014) (co-author)

“Using the MOGCLASS in Group Music Therapy with Individuals with Muscular Dystrophy: A Pilot Study” in Music and Medicine (2012) (co-author)

“Can Music Therapy Be an Answer to the Terrorist Question? - A Singaporean Music Therapist’s Perspective” in Voices (2011)

Singapore snapshot in Imagine, Early Childhood Online Magazine of American Music Therapy Association (2010)

“Music Therapy, War Trauma and Peace” in Voices (2005)

View all my publications

MY JOURNEY WITH MUSIC

I've always loved music. My parents recount how I would not stop singing at the age of 4 or so, and they did not understand what I was singing. However, they said I sang with conviction and volume! Serendipitously, at the age of 9, a neighbour showed me some tunes on her piano, and that was how I was introduced to Richard Clayderman, and soon after, I started piano lessons.

When I stumbled upon music therapy as a major, I was immediately intrigued. Using music in a helping profession sounded like a good fit for me and a meaningful livelihood. I studied at Arizona State University, under Professors Barbara Crowe and Robin Rio, with a wonderfully supportive cohort of music therapy classmates (mostly made up of Americans, and two Koreans). My learning journey to become a music therapist was empowering and amazing, and it changed my life. Right after that, I went to Montrose, New York, for my 6-month full time internship (at a VA Hospital under two amazing internship supervisors), which was a great adventure and beautiful experience in itself... And finally, my master's training at Temple, under Drs. Ken Bruscia, Cheryl Dileo and Darlene Brooks. Right after graduation, I returned to Singapore, ready to put what I had learned into action, as a board-certified music therapist.

One of the interesting things that I recall (hopefully accurately), is the message on a decal of the American Music Therapy Association: Music Therapy. Changing the world one note at a time. Hmmm…. Is that too slow? Is that effective? (Sounds quite safe, with no adverse side effects.) What is time? And how much have we got left? I did not expect to go into existential questions, but this is ultimately what each of us has to deal with. Music brings up all these, and is a powerful stimulant, agent of arousal, for change. My intention is to use it wisely and to share with you how to do so.

One of the things that I have found inspiring, is that when I don't have the answers, and when I am searching for one, it might come in the form of a song, perhaps a lyric, perhaps a melody. Music brings us great comfort, and can be a wonderful soothing balm when we are in need of healing. And music is the tool that music therapists use, to connect with our clients, to journey with them wherever they need to go, and to support them in the way that serves them the best.

MT THEORETICAL ORIENTATIONS AND INTERESTS

BEHAVIOURAL, HUMANISTIC, BIOMEDICAL

My undergraduate training was behavioural, while my graduate training supplemented humanistic, psychodynamic, biomedical, and complexity science (systems theory) perspectives. I would describe my theoretical orientation as eclectic.

INTERSECTION OF MUSIC THERAPY, SOUND HEALING AND BEYOND…

This is a space that I’m just beginning to explore with an integrative perspective… after more than 18 years as a board-certified music therapist, and more than 10 years as a Usui Reiki II practitioner! Given my unique skillset, I intend to bring forth the appropriate skills mindfully to benefit my client.

Contact me to register your interest

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