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#myCMUlife | “Well… it depends…”: Four insights into studying music therapy at CMU

Thursday, June 5, 2025 @ 9:00 AM

Four years ago, I had never heard of music therapy. Now, I can't imagine doing anything else.

In the fall of 2017, I was heading into the last year of my Bachelor of Music in piano at King's University in Edmonton, trying to figure out what to do afterwards. As I skimmed through a promotional brochure about what to do with a music degree, the words "music therapy" caught my eye. I was instantly intrigued. I remember phoning a music therapist to get more information. When I asked what a typical music therapy workday might look like, she replied with, "Well... it depends...." While I thought this answer was profoundly unhelpful in the moment, I've seen how true it is after studying music therapy at CMU.

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#myCMUlife | How CMU made me enjoy living in Winnipeg

Thursday, October 24, 2024 @ 6:31 PM

Growing up in Winnipeg, I always thought I would leave this wintery plain the moment I turned 18. University seemed like the kind of thing you had to move away from Winnipeg for, to have a good experience like you see in the movies. I had visited other universities around Winnipeg and had seen the thousands of students rushing around the overwhelmingly large and at times not-so-aesthetically-pleasing campuses, running to catch busses in the freezing cold. I thought, "Yeah, I might take my business elsewhere."

Then I ended up at CMU by chance for a high school internship. The internship itself taught me so much and gave me the opportunity to work with a publishing company at 17 years old, but I was also enchanted by the architecture of the old castle building and the tiny classrooms compared to large lecture halls of other universities. This learning experience seemed to promise a more one-on-one approach.

I grew up in the North End of Winnipeg, which I found difficult for a plethora of reasons. When I moved to northern Manitoba, I made a promise to myself that when I moved again, I would never move back to Winnipeg. If you've ever seen the movie Lady Bird, I had sort of the same melodramatic line of thinking as the main character. As she says in the film, "I want to go to the east coast. I want to go where culture is."

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CMU approaches student wellness with generous hospitality

Monday, July 26, 2021 @ 1:47 PM

The coronavirus turned students' lives upside down. It completely changed life in the classroom, on the court, and in dorm rooms, significantly impacting students' mental health. But CMU's response to supporting students through challenging times didn't change. "The best solution is a community that cares," says Dean of Student Life Charlie Peronto. Luckily, that is who CMU is at its core.

Cultivating health and wellbeing

Monday, November 9, 2020 @ 9:00 AM

What comes to mind when thinking about 'wellness' and 'mental health'? For many, taking care of mental health may mean booking a session with a therapist. For others, practising wellness might mean beginning a new diet or exercise routine. While, generally, these practices embody the most basic expressions of wellness, wellbeing is impacted by every facet of life. As CMU's Spiritual Life Facilitator Danielle Morton puts it, "wellness can feel like a nebulous category. What counts and does not count as wellness can look different for everyone."

CMU partners with REES, new sexual violence reporting tool

Thursday, September 10, 2020 @ 11:09 AM

This fall, CMU has launched a partnership with REES (Respect, Educate, Empower Survivors), a new online platform for reporting sexual violence on campuses.

Eleven universities and colleges, all the post-secondary institutions in Manitoba except for the University of Manitoba, have committed to signing on to the initiative in 2020 or 2021. Charlie Peronto, CMU's Director of Student Life, says CMU is excited to partner with these other educational institutions and work collaboratively to break down the barriers to reporting sexual violence.

Get to know CMU’s new Director of Student Life

Thursday, August 20, 2020 @ 12:08 PM

Charlie Peronto became CMU's Director of Student Life on July 1, following the retirement of long-time Dean of Student Life, Marilyn Peters Kliewer. Peronto began working at CMU in 2014 as Residence Director and quickly became an essential part of the campus community.

Peronto grew up in southern Wisconsin, but moved to Manitoba when he got married. Before starting at CMU, he was a pastor at a Mennonite Brethren church and lived in Churchill for several years, working in community health, construction, and with the airline. He began studying at CMU's Graduate School of Theology and Ministry in 2013 and continued his studies part-time over the six years he worked as Residence Director, graduating last spring with a Master of Arts in Theology. He lives in Winnipeg with his wife Jocelyn and their dog, Norman. They attend FaithWorks.

Words that bear repeating: chapel attendance up as CMU embraces liturgy

Monday, February 10, 2020 @ 3:04 PM

Thanks to a shift in approach, Tuesday all-campus worship gatherings at CMU are attracting a better, more consistent turnout from the student body. What's different? Spiritual Life Facilitator Danielle Morton says that incorporating liturgy has brought much-needed stillness, rest, and intimacy back to a campus worship routine that was not drawing attendance as it once had.

What "one word" for you describes CMU? (video)

Monday, April 9, 2018 @ 6:38 AM

We asked CMU students what word for them describes their experience at CMU. Here's what they had to say:

CMU and Kenji Dyck Present: Reflections on Student Life (video)

Wednesday, October 18, 2017 @ 12:24 PM

As a self-directed project, CMU student Kenji Dyck recently shot and produced a video which highlights an significant part of any student’s post-secondary education and sense of belonging—student life.

Here’s a look at what he chose to capture as a reflection on what makes the CMU experience special.

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