Welcome, Ms. Tessa!

Please join us in welcoming Ms. Tessa to Musical Bridges! Tessa has relocated to Nashville from West Tennessee most recently, but she is originally from northern Illinois. She is very excited to see where her journey in the city will go from here!

Tessa grew up in Oregon, Illinois, a small town with less than 4,000 residents. Being in such a small community, Tessa was able to be involved in many things. However, she knew from a young age that music was what fulfilled her most in life. From band and choir to musical theater and singing in her church’s praise band, there was always something musical happening at every turn. One day in her sophomore year of high school, there was a staff member that mentioned her daughter was studying music therapy in college. Tessa did her own research, reading articles, watching videos, and reading books. She was hooked. Nine years later, she is making her dream a reality!

Ms. Tessa with her internship partner and Clinical Director from Higher Octave Healing advocating for Music Therapy in the Phoenix Metro Area!

Tessa has a bachelor's degree in music education and music therapy from Wartburg College in Waverly, IA. While in school, she worked in many practicum settings with a variety of ages, diagnoses, and needs. Also while in Iowa, Tessa completed Student Teaching in both urban and rural settings, with grades Kindergarten through 8th Grade in general music and choral music classrooms. She then completed her internship with Higher Octave Healing in Tempe, Arizona. In her internship, Tessa worked with a very wide variety of clients in both individual and group settings. She worked with early childhood development classes, a school for children with visual impairments and cooccurring diagnoses, groups of teens and adults with developmental disabilities, addiction and recovery, adolescent behavioral health, and older adults in both memory care and hospice.

Ms. Tessa working with clients from her internship at a live performance!

Outside of music therapy, Tessa has many hobbies. She loves to craft, creating most of the holiday decorations that she puts up in her home! Tessa can also be found putting puzzles together while listening to podcasts, reading books, and watching Friends! She is really looking forward to exploring new hiking spots that Nashville and surrounding areas have to offer (especially where waterfalls are included!).  

Tessa is excited to continue to build upon her journey as a music therapist! She is looking forward to Neurologic Music Therapy training and is already learning so much from the rest of the staff and from clients and families! Tessa cannot wait to continue to meet and get to know everyone!