Music internship offers teaching experience with community impact
Music is a powerful force: it inspires, emboldens, and heals in ways that last a lifetime.
The Woody Internship in Early Childhood Music Education, established through the music student opportunity fund by Dr. Carol Clayman Woody '71 and Robert Woody in 2019 and now administered through the Charles Center, provides a unique opportunity for William & Mary students to gain hands-on experience in music education while making a difference in the community.
In partnership with the Early Childhood Music School (ECMS), interns directly engage with students in Williamsburg-James City County (WJCC) Public Schools by working closely with ECMS staff and learning skills such as lesson plan design and independent classroom teaching.
Interns are immersed in ECMS’s outreach program known as Elliot’s Song, which works with initiatives like Head Start and Bright Beginnings to provide free music education for at-risk preschoolers in the WJCC area.
ECMS Director Anthony Williams explained how music is used as a critical child development tool for WJCC’s youngest students.
“If teachers notice that children are having trouble with basic counting, we might incorporate songs that focus more on counting,” he said. “If they’re having trouble with fine motor skills, we might bring in instruments like finger cymbals, which is a more practiced exercise as opposed to something as easy as hitting the floor.”
In preparation for their internship, students complete webinar training and certification in Musikgarten, an early childhood “Music in Motion” curriculum that focuses on combining singing with movement.
Musikgarten provides a deep understanding of the educational theory known as music learning sequence, which explores the progression of childhood musical development.
“Between the summer webinar training and certification and the follow-up shadowing with our teachers, interns get a good sense for the theory behind this method and how to apply it,” said Williams.
The year-long nature of the Woody music internship allows interns to become fully involved in classroom activities and learn practical independent leadership skills alongside Williams and ECMS Assistant Director Tamara Carver.
With this cycle’s implementation of a larger stipend of $1,000 per semester, students will have additional resources to cover transportation needs to ECMS and WJCC schools.
Leecy Silk '24, the program’s first intern, participated in the internship for two years. The experience was pivotal in discovering her passion for childhood music education.
“I applied for the Woody Internship on a whim as a way to get out of my comfort zone. I had never really worked with kids before the Woody Internship,” said Silk. “After two years working under the mentorship of Anthony and Tamara, I decided to apply to work in early childhood education while I apply to graduate schools.”
Silk, who majored in neuroscience and music, currently teaches preschool in Loudoun County, Virginia. “The Woody Internship was a great gateway into the classroom for me, and I still use the activities, songs, and principles that I learned through the Woody Internship in my class today,” she said.
Music major Natasha Haines ‘27 initially gained interest in the program when she was encouraged by her choir director to apply. The first music-related internship she had heard of on campus, Haines was excited by the opportunity to explore her passion for music education.
“My hope is to go into high school or even collegiate music education, so I think it’s super beneficial to see the fundamental levels where music education starts,” she said. “The internship also pairs really well with learning about child psychology and development for those interested in that field.”
Over the course of the internship, Haines worked closely with local teachers and ECMS staff to lead students mainly between the age ranges of two and four through songs incorporating bodily movements. These exercises help to teach children concepts like object permanence and bodily awareness.
“Something I didn’t expect to come across that I’ve really enjoyed is interacting with the Pre-K teachers at these host schools because although they all have very different techniques, they all do it very well. It’s very interesting, especially from a psychology or education perspective.”
Williams and Haines noted that the program is a valuable experience for students in a broad range of disciplines, not just in music.
“If you’re studying child psychology, education, or music education, this is a great opportunity for you to get some hands-on experience,” said Williams, “It's not necessarily just for music and performance majors because we’re really working in the classroom, so it’s a strong opportunity for students in other fields as well.”
“Whether or not you’re a good musician becomes backburner compared to your capability to make connections with these kids and be flexible,” said Haines.
In addition to the professional experience it provides, the internship enables students to leave their mark on the local community. ECMS serves over 800 students in the community who would not otherwise have music education. By working directly with these students, interns get to witness the influence of their efforts firsthand.
“The kids are always super excited when we roll the music cart into their classroom. We’re just one part of their greater day, but they all really look forward to music,” said Haines.
“It really means a lot to the teachers, families, and students. I think everybody that knows about it really endorses this program,” explained Williams.
“You don’t have to be a virtuoso in music to be a good child music educator,” he continued. “There is so much more that goes into it than being the most impressive musician in the school, so that is something interested students should not feel discouraged about.”
Applications for the 2025-26 Woody Internship in Early Childhood Music Education are due by 11:59pm on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.
