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| Freshman music therapy major, Carmela D'Agostino |
Carmela D'Agostino
"I started my musical journey piggybacking on my older sister on our way to church's choir rehearsals. I think that's my first memory ever."
Throughout Carmela's childhood, she moved from instrument to instrument until she decided that percussion and voice would be her two main instruments. In high school, she was highly involved in multiple ensembles, even successfully competing in various competitions. Her love of exploration, candidness, and sense of humor will serve her well as she pursues a degree in music therapy.
"I prefer to be a 'jack-of-all-trades', as it gives me something fresh to explore...I'm incredibly thankful for those opportunities I had."
Who are your musical influences?
"My family really got me into music in the beginning. Teachers throughout my elementary school years, especially my music and drama teachers, saw that I gravitated towards the arts and cultivated that. Then, in high school, I continued these passions."
What has your experience at SMWC been like so far? Is there anything that has surprised you?
"I love it here! The sense of community here is heartwarming. I'm mostly surprised at how easy of a transition it has been going from high school to college here. Even with COVID, we've done a great job maintaining connections with each other, while remaining safe."
What sparked your interest in music therapy?
"Learning more about how music benefits the brain and helps people really got my interest in music therapy going. I enjoy helping people and found that music therapy brings all my skills together in one setting. I'm excited to dive into it!"
What do you like to sing? Do you have any favorite musicians, groups, etc.? Are there new genres or styles that you'd like to become more familiar with during your time here at The Woods?
"I like to sing jazz the most, I think. Bandalos Chinos is a great band, along with Tyler the Creator, Rex Orange County, Childish Gambino, Dean Martin, etc. I grew up on R&B, soul, Hispanic, and Italian music, so those genres and styles influenced my taste today. I want to find more international music (both indie and pop)."
Do you have any other general information about yourself that you'd like to share?
"[I enjoy] crafting visual art, horseback riding, lifting, all that jazz. I'm also working on an album with my boyfriend and hopefully, we'll be getting it published soon."
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| Freshman music therapy major, Ariana Hall |
Ariana Hall
Freshman music therapy major, Ariana, has a long-standing relationship with music. As a child, she participated in KinderMusik in Terre Haute, IN, until the age of nine when she completed the program. Afterward, Ariana began to learn how to play piano and the fundamentals of music theory. Since then, she has participated in choir, including the Terre Haute Children's Choir, theater, sang solos, continued her piano lessons, and briefly took private voice lessons.
Who are your musical influences?
Ariana grew up hearing about her musical heritage. Her great-grandmother was an opera singer, one of her grandfathers is a pianist and the other a guitarist, her mother took piano lessons when she was younger, and her father sang.
"My mother made it a point to make sure my siblings and myself were well rounded with music, as she saw it a great opportunity to further our mental development and for myself, a future career - although, I was not aware it would be a career to consider until my senior year of high school. I [have always been] told that I resemble my great-grandmother, so I would say she would be my inspiration as one of my musical influences."
What has your experience at SMWC been like so far? Is there anything that has surprised you?
"My experience at The Woods has been a whirlwind of activities and assignments. The people on campus have been super welcoming and understanding [as I get the grip] of being a freshman. I think the most surprising yet obvious thing I have encountered through my experience at The Woods would be realizing how small the campus is. I knew it was considered a "small college", but I didn't fully comprehend just how small it is. I love it though! It is so personal and comforting to know I am not lost in the shuffle, and I get to see many people I recognize even if I am not in the same classes as them."
What sparked your interest in music therapy?
"My interest in music therapy grew when I read about what music therapy is and what a music therapist does. It resonated with me so much, not because I had music in my background, but because I could use my talent to help others and give them the hope of living. Knowing music therapy isn't about performing also gave me peace that this was the calling I have been searching for."
What drew you to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods compared to other schools?
"I pursued SMWC for a few reasons. 1) [The size of the campus]; 2) I have family living in Terre Haute; 3) I was familiar with SMWC because I was part of the Terre Haute Children's Choir long ago, and we performed at SMWC; and 4) I felt peaceful at the College; whereas, I tended to feel uneasy [at others]."
Do you have any other general information about yourself that you'd like to share?
"I love people. [My] family and friends are near and dear to me. Since I am a social butterfly, I love going out and doing activities with people or spending one-on-one time with loved ones; [especially my mother, we're very close.] I enjoy singing and playing the piano. I [have composed] a piece and wrote a song a couple of years back, [both of which are meaningful to me.]. I enjoy cooking, designing homes (aka décor), dressing up for special occasions, trying new coffee beverages, and so much more. I think the most important thing about myself is that I [have so] much love for my relationship with my Maker - Lord. I would have never considered college without him, nor knew about music therapy if it wasn't for HIM. At SMWC, I can see the Lord's hand throughout my [experience], and I could not be more grateful."
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| Freshman music therapy major, Raygann Richards |
Raygann's relationship with music has grown throughout her life. In junior high, she realized that she wanted music to be a part of her life in a large way. After joining her school choir in seventh grade, she loved the experience so much that she has participated in various choirs ever since then, including North Central High School's top choir called the Ambassadors. Besides singing in choirs, Raygann has sung in several solo venues, including her church, at restaurants, and social events.
"I realized a choir isn't just people who can sing together; it's a family who combines into one voice."Who are your musical influences? What got you into music?
"The person who truly got me into music is my brother. He used to be in Drama Club and Ambassadors. I watched him bloom and was truly inspired to join those clubs and activities in high school. He encouraged me every step of the way. Even today, he tries to come to all of my performances. I'm very thankful for my brother because I wouldn't be where I'm at today without him."
What has your experience at SMWC been like so far? Is there anything that has surprised you?
"My experience at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College has been great so far! I love my classes and my peers. It's truly an amazing place to grow and learn. I would recommend the music department here to anyone. The professors are amazing and very patient with me. It's really nice to feel like I'm a part of something, and I can't wait to spend the rest of my college experience here."
What sparked your interest in music therapy?
"My grandmother is the [person] who got me into music therapy. She lives near the College, so she knew more information than I did. I didn't exactly know what to do until she told me that SMWC has a music therapy [program]. It sparked my interest, so I looked into it, and it seemed like a perfect fit for me. A small program that has big dreams! After coming here and looking around with my family, I soon came to realize this [would be] my new home."
What is one of your fondest musical memories?
"My favorite performance I've done was a few years ago around Christmastime. My church had a Christmas program, and they asked me to sing. I sang "Silent Night" at the very end. The church was lit up with candles, and I sang the best I could. It was so beautiful and silent in the church. When I saw my family smiling through the candlelight, I felt truly uplifted. I'll always have that fond, beautiful memory."
Do you have any other general information about yourself that you'd like to share?
"Even though I am a music student, I do love other things. My favorite hobbies include photography, writing, and cooking! I'm not a very athletic person, but I used to run cross country, and I really enjoyed that. I love nature, studying religions, and enjoying the simple things in life. Overall, I'm just a person from a small town trying to make it in the world."
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| Freshman music major, Adam Stattner |
Adam Stattner
Freshman music major, Adam, began playing instruments and studying music in sixth grade. Initially, he joined band because he wanted to learn how to play guitar, but it was not offered as one of the instruments to learn at the time. Instead, he decided to play the French horn until eventually, Adam joined his school's drumline. After learning how to play various percussion instruments, his director helped him learn more about chord symbols and other keyboard music theory fundamentals as he learned how to play mallet percussion. Now, as a percussion primary at The Woods, Adam plays a wide variety of percussion instruments.
"Eventually, I decided that I liked [studying music] enough that I wanted to do it for myself, so that's what I decided to do. I want to learn how to make music for myself and others."
Who are your musical influences?
"I really started considering music as a career when I started listening to Japanese music in eighth grade. Some of my musical influences are Yojiro Noda and Kenshi Yonezu."
What has your experience at SMWC been like so far? Is there anything that has surprised you?
"It has been pretty cool! There hasn't really been anything that has surprised me, and I really like the people here."
What is something you're looking forward to during your time at The Woods?
"[I'm looking forward to] learning how music is put together and how certain progressions can relate to the way that people feel."
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| Music major, Jordon Rutan |
Jordon Rutan
Jordon began his journey as a musician in 2006 when he started attending high school. During his senior year of high school, his choral ensemble participated in State Solo and Ensemble, which was his first major performance. From 2011-2017, Jordon served in the military. After being medically discharged, Jordon started attending nursing school in Columbus, Georgia. Eventually, he began singing again and started learning how to play piano. Ultimately, Jordon decided that he would like to study voice here at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.
Who are your musical influences? What got you into music?
"I'd have to say my high school choir director was my first influence. I've met quite a few different choral instructors over time, but he's the one that really got me started. He combined humor and his knowledge of music to get people to understand that 'the only wrong sound you can make is nothing at all'. If you make a mistake, it's fine because you can fix it. At Lincoln Trail College, I met Rebecca Carmack. She was another person who really kept me going because she was similar to my high school director. She'd start at your level and build you up from there. Interestingly, she's the one who pointed out that I should pursue music."
What has your experience at SMWC been like so far?
"So far, it has actually been a very intriguing experience. Everyone seems really good at what they do. I feel respect for myself because I'm able to work with people who have such an in-depth knowledge. I feel like I'm improving more than I ever have before."
What do you like to sing? Do you have any favorite musicians, groups, etc.? Are there new genres or styles that you'd like to become more familiar with during your time here at The Woods?
"I love singing jazz, music from musicals, opera, and Christmas music. I enjoy listening to Elton John and Bing Crosby. They have both been musical inspirations for some time. As for music that I'd like to become more familiar with, I guess I would have to say folk music and foreign pieces."
Do you have any other general information about yourself that you'd like to share?
"In my off time, I love playing with my bearded dragon and gerbils. Baking is also a hobby of mine. I've started getting into reading now, too. I like mysteries and adventure novels because they keep me on my feet."
The new Woods students have had various challenges with being a music student during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Despite some challenges, they've had a positive outlook. Here are some of their responses:
"It has its challenges, but overall, COVID has not stopped my college music experience, especially as a voice primary. If anything, wearing a mask has strengthened my breathing by taking deep breaths through material." - Ariana Hall
"Being a music student during this pandemic has had multiple challenges. Considering we're all using instruments or singing, we have to be more than six feet away which is difficult. Even though things are complicated right now, when we go back to normal, [I think] we will appreciate what we do [even] more." - Raygann Richards
While taking classes in a hybrid format, we have all gotten the opportunity to safely make music together and share it with each other, as well as sharing it with a larger, virtual audience. We all look forward to a time when we can more fully connect with each other through music and perform with more people, as well as performing for live audiences again. There is an indescribable magic that comes with making music with others and for live audiences, especially here at The Woods. In the meantime, we love getting the opportunity to make music together as much as possible and in new ways that we never have before. We look forward to continuing to share our musical journeys with everyone!
Editor: Sharon R. Boyle, MM, MT-BC, Associate Professor of Music Therapy and Coordinator of the Undergraduate Music Therapy Program, Chair of the Department of Music and Theatre
Sharon R. Boyle, MM, MT-BC
sboyle@smwc.edu
For information about the SMWC Master of Arts in Music Therapy program, contact: Dr. Tracy Richardson, MT-BC
trichardson@smwc.edu
For more information about the SMWC Music Therapy Equivalency-Distance (MTED)Online program, contact: Larisa McHugh, MA, MT-BC
lmchugh@smwc.edu
