Independent research vs. summer program

Would independent research or experiments be considered as prestigious of an ec as attending a summer program or getting an internship at a university? I have had my heart set on doing research in music therapy or something medical for a while now, and I am genuinely interested in doing it. However, I have other commitments during the summer that prevented me from applying for research opportunities at universities that span over six weeks.

Any suggestions for starting a research project on my own or how to portray it as an extracurricular?