Becky Parker, MT-BC (she/her/hers) is a graduate of the University of the Pacific where she received her bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy and Piano Performance and a minor in French. She completed her music therapy internship at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, Oakland, CA. From there, Becky was welcomed into the McConnell Music Therapy Services team in 2015. Throughout that time she has worked in a variety of settings including special education and adult oncology. She currently is the primary NICU music therapist at Sutter Children's Center in Sacramento.
Becky grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. With her mother being a piano and voice teacher, and her father being a choir director and percussionist, it was inevitable that Becky would pursue music. Becky grew up singing in choirs, including the San Francisco Girls Chorus, and took piano and voice lessons through college. She continued to sing with choirs, including the University of the Pacific choirs and Musae, a women’s ensemble based in San Francisco.
Becky discovered the field of Music Therapy upon arrival to University of the Pacific. The concept of combining music and therapy fascinated her, and so she went for it! As she grew to understand the field more and more, she began to embrace the idea of meeting patients and clients where they were and creating change. Becky has recently put this philosophy into practice more than ever on the NICU, where patient’s responses are most apparent. In watching the infant’s bodily reactions and changes in heart and respiratory rates as seen on their monitors, Becky can adjust the music and stimulation she is providing to give them the maximum neurological benefits.
Becky lives in Placerville with her husband, Jared, and son Abram. She often takes advantage of her proximity to the Sierra Mountains and goes hiking or fishing. Becky always craves a good cup of tea, and has reserved two full drawers in her kitchen for her tea collection. She also loves rainy weather, enjoying the nearby Apple Hill, attending music concerts, wearing flannel, singing, cooking, and visiting family.