Heather Hodorowski

Heather Hodorowski

is the Music Therapy Coordinator at NorthShore University HealthSystem outside of Chicago, Illinois. She has over 10 years of experience providing music therapy services to a wide range of medical populations including oncology, intensive care, cardiac care, medical/surgical, rehabilitation, hospice/palliative care, and psychiatry. She presents frequently about Medical Music Therapy at regional and national conferences. Heather also holds a Master's degree in Counseling.

Although she had frequently incorporated drumming into her music therapy practice, it wasn't until a completely random email from Arthur Hull at Village Music Circles led her to a Hawaii Playshop in 2008 that drumming and drum circles began to truly click. Since that time, Heather has attended multiple Hawaii Playshops including 2 years as a mentor.

Heather has had the opportunity to facilitate drum circles with individuals with mental illness, cancer patients, children at Camp Erin grief and bereavement camp, hospital leadership, and graduate students, and is looking forward to facilitating burn survivors at the World Burn Congress in 2012!

As a music therapist Heather's passion has always been to involve individuals who would not have had the opportunity to do so whether because of illness, different abilities, or circumstance in the incredible process of music. Drum circle facilitation and drumming has allowed her to take this passion to a new level.  Drumming doesn't see illness or disease and it doesn't differentiate between therapist and patient, teacher and student, mentor and mentee. Instead drumming breaks down walls, is completely in the moment, and meets people exactly where they are!