Alumna Uses Music Therapy to Connect Across Cultures in Japan

Through Belmont’s musical therapy program and Lumos Travel grant, Janelle Lockney discovers personal strengths in the field 

For Janelle Lockney, an alumna of Belmont’s music therapy program, working abroad in Japan through the Lumos Travel program proved to be one of the most influential experiences of her career - transformative emotionally, physically and spiritually.  

Designed to provide young adults with the opportunity to embark on a self-designed international working adventure, participants in Lumos Travel immerse themselves in local cultures across the globe, working to deepen their understanding of issues, projects or ideas that drive their professional passions.  

Growing up, Lockney spent much of her time volunteering in the special needs community and watching her sister’s therapy journey after being diagnosed with autism. Those experiences ignited her passion for helping others. When she began her college search, she discovered music therapy – a field that allowed her to unite her musical talents with her commitment to service. Through it, she found the power of using her gifts to change lives.  

Lockney praised Belmont’s music therapy program for allowing her to identify, strengthen and express her individual strengths as a therapist, finding her own niche within the field. “We all have strengths and challenges, and that’s okay,” she said. “Now as a professional, I can hone my skills into the populations that benefit from my strengths. I see my peers all taking careers within their area of expertise, and it's amazing."   

When Music Speaks Louder Than Words  

That passion soon carried her far beyond Belmont’s classrooms, as Lockney had the opportunity to participate in the Lumos Travel program shortly after graduation, working to develop music therapy programs for Deep Japan’s volunteer sites.  

Reflecting upon her experience, she explained, “As a music therapist, using music as a tool in sessions is a given. However, when you are in a situation where it is your only tool because you lack proper communication due to language and cultural barriers, it shows you just how powerful music truly is.”   

Learning the beauty in simplicity, she found that in a crowded room of energetic children, “a simple rhythm stick could create order, and a song –– even in a foreign language –– could unite and uplift a room full of people.”  

Working primarily with children at local nursery schools, Lockney learned “how much of an impact a single adult can make in a child’s life by simply being intentional in their actions.” Although she was only able to carry on a few conversations with them, the children she worked with helped her see the joy in even the smallest moments and taught her that actions truly do speak louder than words.    

Where Her Journey Began  

“Looking back, I’m grateful that [the program] was tough. It made me stronger and a better therapist,” Lockney said. “Therapy is too powerful of a profession to let people skate through on easy mode.”  

Through Belmont’s music therapy program, Lockney was able to find a profession that offers her a sense of belonging. Belmont wasn’t just where she studied music therapy – it's where she learned to slow down, embrace challenges and prepare to share music’s healing power across the world.