2026 Quarterly CEU Sessions

Our first CEU quarterly offering of 2026 will be a clinical discussion. The clinical narrative will be read by Kyle Higaki, CM-Th, and the ensuing clinical discussion will be facilitated by Tony Pederson, CM-Th.

You will receive the Zoom link before the start of the session – No registration needed for members

The clinical discussion is used as an ongoing educational and developmental opportunity for music-thanatologists to enrich and deepen their contemplative and professional practice. In a clinical discussion, a clinical narrative is read that reflects a music vigil experience. The narrative integrates the application and analysis of the prescriptive delivery of music in support of phenomenological observations. After the narrative is read, a facilitator holds the space and guides the interactions that follow.

Anyone present is welcome to contribute to the discussion, which is intended to be a rich and enlivening experience that encourages an open sharing of observations, perceptions, insights, and ideas. Participants may comment or raise questions relating to the music vigil experience. Potential discussion topics may include, but are not limited to, various aspects of the vigil and that which was observed clinically, musically, medically, thanatologically, and spiritually/emotionally.

Our hope is that all participants of the clinical discussion will gain insights and new ways of looking at patient and music-thanatologist interactions in the vigil setting.

Competency: Professional/Clinical

CEU Hours: 1.5

Kyle Higaki, CM-Th

Kyle is a certified music-thanatologist, having received his professional certification in 2016. He served as a music-thanatologist with Providence Health and Services from 2015 through 2023, most recently at St. Vincent Medical Center in Portland, Oregon. Kyle now resides on the Big Island of Hawaii, where he was born and raised. He is the current treasurer of Music-Thanatology Association International (MTAI), having served in this role since 2021.