Shroothi Ramesh

Capstone- 6
October Mentor Reflection
I met with my in school mentor, Mrs. Menzie (choir director), on the 28th for my October
mentor meeting. During our meeting we discussed everything that had happened with my
Capstone project since September. We started our meeting with discussing what I learned from
researching for my second paper and I also went over the results and experience I gained from
participating in the Methodist study. We also went over key points of interest for my third essay
topic. After that, we discussed a few articles that Mrs. Menzie found from her alma mater, the
University of Southern California, which advocated for music education for children. Our main
focus of the meeting was plans for spring action. Mrs. Menzie came up with the idea for me to
give a presentation somewhere m research could potentially be used like a senior citizens home
or a place that treats Alzheimers disease. She thinks it would be special if I could do something
like that and I agree. It would also be really cool if I could sing a few songs for the residents
there that they might associate with or remember like songs from the 40s or 50s like Elvis.
Overall, our meeting was pretty productive and I agreed to look into possible venues for my
spring action event for next semester.
I met with my outside mentor, Mr. Todd Frazier, at Methodist on October 14th, after we
completed the fMRI scan on my dad for their study (and mine). We primarily discussed possible
results of the fMRI scan and use for such data in the future. For the most part the data we
collected will be used to help music therapists at Methodist and other hospital create exercises
for their patients to exercise their brain or particular portions of their portions that have been
affected by physical damage from a stroke or other medical issues that affect the brain. I was also
given the opportunity to speak with Dr. Jennifer Townsend, who offered the opportunity for me
to speak at the SWAMTA (South western American music therapy association) conference in
April, when my research would be finalized. Mr. Frazier and I also discussed the focus of my
third paper for Capstone. My focus was Ethical Implications of neuroscience, however, we came
to the conclusion that just discussing ethics would be too short because the majority of concern
for studies arent supported. Thus, we decided to extend my third paper to include prospects of
art integration within the medical field as well as other fields and end with advocacy of science
and the arts working together. Our meeting was really helpful for me to finalize my idea for
Capstone and receive a better understanding of my first and second subtopics. We also discussed
how my lab research from the summer at the University of Houston tied into the research they
are doing now at Methodists Center for Performing Arts Medicine. This helped me gain a better
overall perspective of my topic that helped me realize, though focuses are different, there is only
one final goal.