"The Beat of the Heart” is a documentary film exploring the groundbreaking work of Brian Schreck, a board-certified music therapist. His work involves recording patients’ heartbeats and incorporating them into musical pieces composed by patients and their families. After the screening Schreck will answer questions and share the work he has been doing with Pacific’s music therapy students. Attendance is free and open to the public.

The documentary is a part of the 85th Anniversary of Music Therapy at University of the Pacific, April 26–27, 2024. On Saturday, we invite music therapy alumni, students, faculty and professionals to a Celebratory Symposium featuring presentations for both music therapy students and practicing clinicians on topics including medical music therapy, forensic mental health, research, supervision, education and clinical practice. Register for the symposium.

In 1938, Wilhelmina “Billy” Harbert introduced the first in a series of courses in what would later become the Music Therapy Program at University of the Pacific. This first course, “Musical Guidance and Therapy,” captured Harbert’s passion to use music to assist those with educational, mental health or medical concerns. That spirit has been preserved to this day at Pacific.