Welcome Our New Team Member: Magaly Cordero

Magaly joins us after completing her clinical internship in music therapy in the hospital setting! She is a professional vocalist who has transformed her talent into a career supporting children through music. Magaly is bilingual and brings new opportunities to support our ever-expanding Dynamic Lynks community. Keep reading to learn more about Magaly!

Q: Where did you grow up, and what brought you to the Chicago area?

A:  I grew up in Orlando, Florida. I came to the Chicago area to attend college at Northwestern University. I was extremely excited to move to a place that had four seasons, in particular SNOW in the winter.

I initially came to Northwestern as a pre-med major, but I quickly became involved in choral ensembles and voice lessons and ended up transferring to the School of Music to pursue studies in classical vocal performance. 

Q: Where did you go to college for your music therapy degree?

A: I completed my online equivalency through Slippery Rock University, which is in Pennsylvania.

Q: What individuals and groups do you have experience working with?

A:  During my internship, I worked with medically fragile children in a hospital, including newborns, school-aged kiddos, and adolescents. Primary goals I worked on included pain management and relaxation, and I also helped encourage coping, self-expression, and normalization.

In my practicums, I also had the pleasure to work with neurodiverse teens, elderly adults with dementia, and adults with intellectual disabilities. Goals with these groups included promoting safe behaviors, improving verbal communication, and increasing social engagement. 

As a music educator, I work regularly with toddlers as well as early elementary-aged children.

Q: What are your favorite instruments to use in Music Therapy sessions?

A:  I love using the ocean drum, maracas, and smaller drums like the djembe. I also love giving clients opportunities for imaginative play or to just be silly, so I like to pull out the quack stick and the clatterpillar whenever I can.

Q: What are your favorite skills to work on in Music Therapy sessions?

A:   I love working on creative self-expression, socialization, relaxation, and self-regulation.

Q: If you weren’t a music therapist, what would you be?

A:  I think I would be a physician or some sort of health researcher.

Q: What do you want the Dynamic Lynks family to know about you?

A:  I am extremely passionate about providing opportunities for growth, comfort, and expression to all children, regardless of their background, ability, or neuro-status.

Q: What does celebrating neurodiversity mean to you?

A:   Celebrating neurodiversity means recognizing the worth, beauty, and “wholeness” of individuals whose brains function differently than what is considered typical. It also means attempting to understand how these individuals prefer to think, work, and express themselves. One should then work within these preferences to provide positive and pleasant experiences.

Q: What are you most excited about joining the Dynamic Lynks team?

A:  Aside from working with clients in sessions, I look forward to collaborating and brainstorming with the team, which is made up of incredibly intelligent, talented, and warm music therapists! We all have different approaches and strengths, and I would love to learn from my colleagues to become a stronger clinician. 

Email info@dynamiclynks.com to schedule a free consultation with one of our amazing therapists!