Music Therapy

Music therapy is an established health care profession that uses specifically designed music interventions to address the unique physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals of all ages, across the lifespan. In a pediatric medical setting, board-certified music therapists are trained to design and implement individualized interventions to address the needs of each child and family.

At Primary Children's Hospital our music therapists are highly trained to harness the therapeutic qualities of music and to enable children of all ages to work toward their physiological, cognitive, emotional and social goals. Music therapy is prioritized based on doctor referral, but requests for a referral can be directed to any member of your child's care team.

In the pediatric medical setting, music therapy can be used by patients and their families to:

Improve neurological development
Improve speech and language
Develop fine and gross motor development
Improve coping skills
Normalization of environment
Eliminating or decreasing sedation for procedures
Legacy creation/memory making
Procedural support
Pain management
Increasing control over environment
Emotional self-expression

Music Therapy Room

Please note: Sophie's Place is currently closed due to COVID-19.

Primary Children's Hospital has a dedicated music therapy space called Sophie's Place. It houses our music therapy department, and contains a large therapy room full of a variety of instruments as well as a small recording studio. This space is a sanctuary for patients and families at Primary Children's to come and experience music therapy. We also offer several volunteer run activities in the evenings.

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Sophie's Place Highlights

Large therapy room
Recording studio
Variety of musical instruments
Availability for private visits through music therapy consult
Drop-in hours and special events

Hospital Concerts

Occasionally Primary Children's Hospital holds concerts for patients and families. These concerts are held in Sophie's Place and the Forever Young Zone playroom. We've been pleased to host several artists to perform for our patients. Past visits include national headliners such as Imagine Dragons and Stone Temple Pilots, to local favorites like the Lower Lights. We also host visits from groups in the community, such as local high school music ensembles.

The Sophie's Place Story

Sophie's Place was established in 2013 in loving memory of singer, songwriter and volunteer Sophie Barton. Sophie regularly volunteered at Primary Children's Hospital and often sang because she understood that music changes everything.

Sophie's goal was to write ten songs by the time she was seventeen. Sophie was always eager to help others and serve by sharing her music. Sophie's Place is an initiative of the Forever Young Foundation.

Meet Our Therapists

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Spencer Hardy, Expressive Therapies Coordinator, MA, MT-BC

Spencer graduated from Berklee college of music with an undergraduate degree in music therapy in 2007 and again completed his Master’s Degree in Music Therapy in 2018 also from Berklee College of Music. Spencer joined the music therapy team at Primary Children's Hospital in 2015 and was hired on as Expressive Therapies Coordinator in 2018. Spencer also serves as the music therapy internship director. Spencer currently serves on the Children’s Surgical Unit and Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Primary Children’s Hospital.
Contact Spencer

Eliana Rivera, MT-BC

Eliana graduated from Appalachian State University with a bachelor’s degree in music therapy in 2017. Eliana first had the opportunity to work as a PRN for Primary Children’s Hospital and joined as a full-time staff member in 2018. Eliana currently serves on the Infant Medical Unit of Primary Children’s Hospital and provides music therapy services at the Primary Children’s Wasatch Canyons Behavioral Health Campus, for both the outpatient programming and inpatient units.
Contact Eliana

Katie Lahue, MA, SCMT, MT-BC

Katie graduated from Wartburg College in 2014 with her Bachelor's Degree in Music Therapy and Music Education. She has also completed her Master’s Degree in Music Therapy with an emphasis in counseling at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. Katie joined Primary Children’s as a full-time staff member in 2018. Katie currently serves the Oncology/Transplant Unit at Primary Children’s Hospital.
Contact Katie

Kayla Zuckerman, MA, SCMT, MT-BC

Kayla graduated from the University of Miami in 2014 with her bachelor’s degree in music therapy and psychology. She competed her Master’s Degree in Music Therapy with an emphasis in counseling from Saint-Mary-of-the-Woods College in 2018. Kayla joined the music therapy team at Primary Children’s Hospital in 2015 and serves as an internship supervisor. Kayla currently serves on the Neuro-Trauma Unit and with Inpatient Rehabilitation at Primary Children’s Hospital.
Contact Kayla

Mackenzie Mondek, MT-BC

Mackenzie graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music therapy from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in 2018. Mackenzie joined the music therapy team at Primary Children’s Hospital as a PRN in 2019. Mackenzie covers all inpatient units of the hospital in her PRN work and also provides coverage at the Primary Children’s Wasatch Canyons Behavioral Health Campus.
Contact Mackenzie

Sarah Freyaldenhoven, MT-BC

Sarah graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music therapy from Georgia College & State University in 2017. Sarah first had the opportunity to work as a PRN for Primary Children’s Hospital and joined as a full-time staff member in 2018. Sarah currently serves on the Children’s Medical Unit, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and outpatient dialysis clinic at Primary Children’s Hospital. Sarah also provides our pediatric hospice music therapy services through Intermountain Homecare and Hospice.
Contact Sarah

Music Therapy

Music Therapy Goals

Music Therapy Room

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Sophie's Place Highlights

Hospital Concerts

The Sophie's Place Story

Music Therapy Organizations and Resources

Meet Our Therapists

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Spencer Hardy, Expressive Therapies Coordinator, MA, MT-BC

Eliana Rivera, MT-BC

Katie Lahue, MA, SCMT, MT-BC

Kayla Zuckerman, MA, SCMT, MT-BC

Mackenzie Mondek, MT-BC

Sarah Freyaldenhoven, MT-BC