Our Staff

Jaime L. Alspach, MT-BC Neurologic Music Therapist Co-Director After growing up in North Olmsted, Ohio, Jaime received her Bachelor of Music degree in Music Therapy, from Ohio University. There she studied flute and piano and was active in Sigma Alpha Iota. Her clinical internship was completed at Capital District Beginnings in Troy, New York where she worked with Preschool and School-Aged children with a variety of disabilities in homes and schools. Jaime’s main interest is in providing Music Therapy (MT) services to children on the Autism Spectrum. Jaime’s primary responsibilities with MTEC include direct treatment with clients, overseeing client paperwork, and business accounting. She presents frequently to parent support groups, paraprofessionals, and professionals about MT and autism. She speaks often on how to incorporate MT into the home and schools to create opportunities for communication and growth. Jaime devotes much of her time towards advocating for music therapy as a related service on an IEP. It is for this reason why she is so passionate about the accuracy of progress reporting. Jaime shares her love of the outdoors with husband, Tom Alspach, a Software Engineer for Aurelian Corporation, children Ashley and Matthew, and their 10 year old puppy! She is also actively involved with her local Relay for Life, and is dedicated to raising money for the American Cancer Society in honor of her family who has been deeply affected by cancer.

Alane J. Krumbine, MT-BC Music Therapist Co-Director Before co-founding MTEC, this Chicago area native moved to Athens, Ohio to enroll in the music therapy program at Ohio University. It was there, with horn as her primary instrument, that she completed her Bachelor of Music degree in Music Therapy. Alane’s clinical internship took place at SDTC: The Center for Discovery in Harris, New York. There she worked with children and adults with multiple disabilities. Aside from her own caseload of clients, Alane’s primary responsibilities include overseeing caseloads of all staff, assessing new clients, marketing and public relations. Alane presents frequently for different professional organizations in the hopes of educating and drawing awareness towards the benefits of music therapy. Her interests include children and adults with special needs, as well as using music in end of life care. She is married to Keith Krumbine, a Database and Compliance Engineer with Hyland Software, and together they have two wonderful daughters, Anya and Keira. When she is not working, Alane reconnects through friends, running and traveling.

Kara Caine, MT-BC Music Therapist and Music Educator Kara Phipps graduated magna cum laude with her Bachelor’s of Music Education: Music Therapy, as well as her Bachelor’s of Music Education: Public School Teaching from the College of Wooster. At Wooster, Kara received the Pi Kappa Lambda prize in music. Kara has been a flute soloist with the Canton Symphony and as well as a piano soloist with the Wooster Symphony Chamber Orchestra. She has been teaching piano and flute privately for 5 years and has experience with students of all abilities, ages 6-months to adult. Before the Music Therapy Enrichment Center, Kara especially enjoyed working as the Music and Movement Instructor for ACE: Activities Created for Enrichment with participants with moderate to severe developmental disabilities, ages 5-22, in Roanoke, Virginia. In the fall of 2008, Kara completed her student teaching in Wooster where she worked with general music K-6 and 7th and 8th grade band. Kara’s clinical music therapy internship was at the Fraser School in Minneapolis, a preschool for children with disabilities and typically developing children.

Erin Shoemaker, MT-BC Music Therapist Erin Shoemaker recently earned her bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy from Eastern Michigan University. While there, she minored in Psychology and studied her principal instrument, voice. She completed her clinical internship at Lincoln Park Public Schools outside of Detroit, Michigan. There she was able to work with a diverse population of students of all ages and diagnoses. Immediately after graduating, Erin was hired as one of the Music Therapists at The Autism Collaborative Center in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Being a native of North Olmsted, she is excited to have returned to serve the community! When she is not working, Erin likes to spend time at Lake Erie and perform around the greater Cleveland Area at various theatrical venues.

Lucille Brown, MT-BC Music Therapist Lucille Brown graduated from the State University of New York at Fredonia with a Bachelor's of Science in Music Therapy, where she minored in Psychology and studied her principal instrument, french horn. She completed her clinical internship with a Hospice population in the Cleveland/Akron areas. After receiving her board certification she accepted a contract music therapy position in the San Antonio area working with children and adults with developmental disabilities in their homes as well as at schools and facilities. Lucille is excited to be in the Cleveland area serving the community through music therapy. When she is not working, she enjoys new adventures in the outdoors, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

Barbara Bownds Music Instructor (Piano) Barbara Bownds recently moved to Westlake, Ohio from the Houston, Texas area. She holds an undergraduate degree in elementary education with a minor in music (piano emphasis) from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. She attained a masters degree in education from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. Barbara worked as a regular education classroom teacher for many years receiving the “Elementary Teacher of the Year” award in 2000. The last twelve years she gained a passion for children’s music while teaching elementary classroom music in public school, where she became a member of TMEA and received Orff music instruction from the University of Houston. Upon retirement, she taught private piano lessons while continuing to teach sixteen classes of fourth grade classroom music a week. Barbara loves to spend time talking with friends and family, walking and bicycling to explore nature, reading, and playing with her grandchildren, Kaleb and Kameron.

2010 - High Ropes Course at Camp Cheerful (Achievement Centers for Children) Video

2008 - High Ropes Course at Camp Cheerful (Achievement Centers for Children)