Music Therapy Services of Greater Atlanta

FAQs

• How did you get started doing this type of work?

  I I started piano lessons when I was seven years old. My mom worked very hard as a single parent to keep me in lessons for over eleven years. I hated them at first. I dreaded going every week and I made excuses not to practice as often as possible. I went to a fine arts highschool where I could “major” in piano and music quickly became my niche among all the other arty kids. I realized I had valuable skills and they made me feel special for the first time. Not wanting to leave years of work behind, I went on to study piano in college and now I feel lucky to be on the other side of the business and have the chance to provide for others what I received which paved my path. After all, what good are skills if you don’t share them?

• What types of customers have you worked with?

  Music Therapy sessions are available for people of all ages and aim to address a wide set of therapeutic goals including cognitive functioning, motor skills, emotional affective development, behavior and social skills, and speech/communication. A variety of musical experiences are used in sessions to motivate the client, encourage growth, and make it fun! These may include: moving to music, singing, instrument playing, free improvisation, music listening and discussion, and songwriting. Adapted lessons are available for piano and guitar to individuals of all ages who require special accommodations to receive music lessons. These may include modified lessons (with a focus on performance) or a combination of music therapy (with non-musical goals) & music lessons. Typical lessons are also available in piano and guitar and include a large focus on music theory.

• What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?

  Assess your goals: if you want to be a better musician and work towards a possible career in the area of music, I’ll know how to better help you! If you are looking to pick up a new hobby and focus on fun, I’ll approach you differently so you aren’t wasting your time and dreading lessons! I want to help you with your goals no matter what they are—I’m simply here to guide you; But you have to know what they are first!