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My experience as a violinist, Certified Music Therapist (MTA), Neurologic Music Therapist (NMT), and Registered Psychotherapist (RP), has led me to clinical work across diverse settings and populations, including neurorehabilitation, long-term care, palliative care, and autism, where I utilize evidence-based techniques to foster healing, recovery, and growth.
A current PhD candidate at the University of Toronto, I specialize in the clinical practice and research applications of applied music neuroscience, currently investigating the intersection of music-based exercise, non-invasive brain stimulation, and stroke recovery.
I hold a Master of Arts in Music Therapy, magna cum laude, from Berklee College of Music with a specialization in Conventional and Integrative Medicine, and a Bachelor of Music Therapy from Wilfrid Laurier University with a focus in violin performance and psychology.
As an educator, I aim to support future music therapists through meaningful curriculum and student-centered mentorship. Passionate about music’s transformative power, I strive to advance the field through compassionate practice, impactful research, and dynamic teaching.
My doctoral research explores the intersection of music therapy, stroke rehabilitation, and non-invasive brain stimulation. By integrating music neuroscience with insights into the neural mechanisms underlying stroke recovery, I design targeted music interventions to enhance rehabilitation. Specifically, I combine music-based exercise with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to improve upper extremity function in chronic stroke survivors, aiming to optimize recovery outcomes and inform future therapeutic strategies.
- Academic Engagement Grant, University of Toronto (2024)
- Doctoral Completion Award, University of Toronto (2024)
- Graduate Fellowship – Music, University of Toronto (2018-2024)
- Elaine Keillor Music and Health Research Fellow, University of Toronto (2021)
- Boston Masters’ Award, Berklee College of Music (2015-2017)
Caputo, C. C., Kowaleski, J., Loria, T., & Thaut, M. (2024). Patterned auditory sensory enhancement and transcranial direct current stimulation for upper extremities following stroke. International Journal of Stroke, 19(2S), 99-100, #1556. 16th World Stroke Congress, 23-26 October 2024. Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Caputo, C. C., Loria, T., Kowaleski, J., & Thaut, M. (2024). Paired Neurologic Music Therapy and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Upper Extremities Following Stroke. 13th World Congress for Neurorehabilitation, 22-25 May 2024. Vancouver, Canada.
Caputo, C. C., Kowaleski, J., Thaut, M., & Loria, T. (2023). Paired neurologic music therapy and transcranial direct current stimulation for upper extremities following stroke. International Journal of Stroke, 18(35), 233, #1975. 15th World Stroke Congress, 10-12 October 2023. Toronto, Canada.
I’m thrilled to be teaching at my alma mater, a place that holds a special place in my heart. Laurier was where I first discovered my passion for music therapy, and it’s incredibly fulfilling to return as an educator. My goal is to inspire and empower the next generation of music therapists, just as I was inspired during my time here. I hope to encourage students to explore, grow, and discover their own unique voice in the field. I feel truly privileged to be part of their journey and contribute to the development of future clinicians who will uniquely shape the field.
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