User:Apiper

Anna Piper is a 22 year old vocalist, originally from Potomac, MD. She is studying Music Therapy at Berklee College of Music and is about to embark on an internship in Schenectady, NY. She will be working with school aged kids diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disorders.

Musical Background and Outlook

Fifteen years ago, I was cast as the lead in an opera my elementary school put on in conjunction with the Kennedy Center. That experience jump started my musical career and was followed by years of voice lessons, dance lessons, acting lessons, and musical theater. As I grew older my love of music evolved as I was exposed to music’s many genres and artists of the past such as Mary Chapin Carpenter, The Beatles, Bonnie Raitt, The Eagles, and many more; my parents have good taste. With the introduction of new styles of music I realized that I did not just like music, but I loved it and wanted to make it my life. When applying for colleges I knew that Berklee was the only place I wanted to go, and it was the only school that I applied to. In coming to Berklee my love of music has only grown and I have found a new passion in music therapy. Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship. Many populations such as elders, disabled children, psychiatric patients, and at-risk youth can be helped through music therapy. Through Berklee’s practica I was able to work with many kinds of people, and found a passion for working with children diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disorders. In September, I am moving to Upstate New York for an internship at a special education school. In the future I would like to open a school for disabled children in South Africa and provide them with the proper schooling and therapy. I will go to work and use music to improve the lives of disabled children. By teaching them skills for the future they can live more independent, happy lives.

My Music

When choosing music to listen to I am drawn to intricate and powerful melodic lines. I gravitate towards singers, songwriters, or instrumental pieces that evoke deep emotional experiences. I love artists like Sara Bareilles, Adele, Bon Iver, and Ray Lamontagne, musicians who write penetrating lyrics sthat makes me think, wonder, and dream. I get the majority of my music from Internet sites like iTunes, but have also found sites like Pandora to be a trove of new artists waiting for me to discover. I am always open to listening to new artists and different types of music. It seems that every day I find something new and become enamored with it. There is so much music coming out today that it is hard to keep up, and I look forward to see the directions that music will take in the future. We have the musical “greats” of our generation, but I wonder who will be considered the greats in 20 years.