Spectrum Creative Arts LLC provides premium quality creative arts services in the areas of music therapy, music instruction, art therapy, creative drama, creative dance, and art instruction for children and adults in Rochester, New York and surrounding areas. Here at Spectrum, we believe that EVERYONE is an artist, and we seek to empower our clients to create, explore, and enjoy the arts.  

About Our Internship Program

Since Spectrum Creative Arts opened it’s doors in September 2013, we have been arranging university affiliated internship placements.  We have completed internship placements for the Berklee College of Music, S.U.N.Y. at Fredonia, Duquesne University, Slippery Rock University, Purdue University, Montclair State University, and Nazareth College.  Our future goal is to apply for a National Roster Music Therapy Internship with the American Music Therapy Association, but at this time we are only accepting university affiliated placements.

Internship Director

Wade Richards, MT-BC

Wade received his Bachelor of Science degree in music therapy and applied voice from S.U.N.Y at Fredonia.  He completed his internship at the Broome-Tioga Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) in Binghamton, New York.  He has been providing music therapy services in the Greater Rochester, New York area for over 25 years.  Wade has served as Chair of the Music Therapy Department and Orff-Schulwerk Department at the David Hochstein School Memorial School where he established the National Roster Internship Program in 2003.   He was also the Program Director of the Trinity Assistance Corporation Blue Ridge Music Therapy Center, and owned his private practice “Time for Music” from 1995 – 2013. Wade has pursued additional training in Orff-Schulwerk, Neurologic Music Therapy, American Sign Language, and Performance Wellness.

Wade joined Spectrum Creative Arts as one of the owners and directors in 2013. He established university affiliated internships with colleges in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Massachusetts. Currently, he is an instructor in the Music Education Department at the Eastman School of Music.  

Supervising Music Therapists

Noa Fergurson, MS, MT-BC

Gina Lane, MT-BC

Populations Served

As a community creative arts program, our therapists and educators work with all abilities, ages, and populations.  Our music therapy department provides individual music therapy, group music therapy, consultative music therapy, adaptive music lessons, classes, ensembles, transition programs, workshops/trainings, and co-treatments with a full spectrum of populations and environments.  The intern will have opportunities to observe, co-treat, and lead music therapy sessions both onsite and in the community.  Some of our offsite contracts have included, school-based programming, psychiatric centers, nursing facilities, day care centers, and home visits with medically fragile individuals.

Internship Placement Schedule

NEW! We have made some recent changes to our internship program.  We are thrilled to be offering a stipend for interns that complete an 8-month placement.  The addition of a stipend is a brand new component we launched in September 2021.  This means that we will only be accepting one intern per term.  Placements considered will be either September -May, or October – June.

In general, the intern will be scheduled Monday-Friday.  The hours and times fluctuate daily depending on current class offerings, off-site assignments, client enrollment, and the phase of the internship.  Although there are some events scheduled on the weekends throughout the internship, the weekends are open for the intern to seek part-time weekend employment if needed. Applicants will be committing to a 35-hour per week schedule that creates an 8-month internship placement, versus a 40-hour per week schedule for a 6-month placement. The 8-month internship has proven to work best both for our students and interns.

Our Philosophy

Every aspect of our services, programming, and business structure here at Spectrum Creative Arts, LLC was constructed with intent. The principles that ground our philosophy are integral to our mission, and influence every aspect of our business. As an intern at Spectrum, you are a direct representation of the company, with the subsequent expectation that these values are embodied in your work.

A Person Centered, Strength-Based Approach

We believe that each one of our students is unique and comes to our center with a special set of strengths. Your mission is to help empower these individuals to utilize his or her innate strengths to engage with the creative arts. This is demonstrated by:

  • Creative, innovative approaches 

While curriculums and method books can be helpful teaching tools, we’ve found that these try to provide a “one-size-fits-all” method of learning. We envision our team approaching the learning process with a variety of tools to provide their students maximum opportunities for success.

  • Positive encouragement

Learning a new skill can be a challenging (and sometimes frustrating) journey. We believe that students are best equipped to overcome challenges when they feel supported by an instructor who is able to recognize and showcase their strengths.

  • Letting students take the lead

We believe students are most empowered when encouraged to take an active leadership role in their session. This can be achieved by providing the student space to pursue their interests, and independently explore the creative experience.

  • Building community

Cultivating community is a prominent component of our process at Spectrum. We believe that learning is a collaborative process and we encourage you to get your students caregivers involved in their instruction by providing timely and consistent communication, regular progress reports, supplemental materials for home use, and opportunities for interaction as often as possible.

We also care deeply about our ties with our local community, and have many events that are designed to serve community members. We encourage you to actively participate in these events when they occur, and to advocate for your student’s participation as well.

  • Access for all

In serving such a diverse range of individuals, we work hard to ensure that all of our services are accessible to all.

  • Sustainability

Sustainability is a core component of our business practices at Spectrum. We ask that you assist us in our continuous efforts to maintain a “green” workplace.

  • Fun!

Here at Spectrum, we place great value in providing services that excite and motivate our clients. As a person-centered practice, we see our student’s interests and preferences as strengths, and encourage each individual to be true to their own character. Our goal is to develop artists who are passionateabout what they do!

Application Process

Step 1: Complete our Online Internship Application Form to let us know you are interested in our internship.  The Director reach to talk further about the internship and application process.

Step 2: Complete a phone screening with the Internship Director to talk through the current internship requirements and program.

Step 3: Submit a formal application for the internship- (recommendations, resume, clinical writing samples, and academic transcripts.)

Step 4: Arrange a formal internship interview and audition with the Internship Director.

Step 5: Once accepted, complete paperwork for our background check and release of records from your college.

Download our Spectrum Creative Arts Internship Fact Sheet.  It includes a summary of this webpage and additional information about the internship.

Have additional questions?  Contact us directly.

Wade Richards, Director 

Email: wade@spectrumcreativearts.org

Phone: 585-383-1999 Ex. 1003