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CW: Technology has allowed music listening and cre-     forms. To me, music is more than just instruments
 WE ALL HAVE A COMMON LANGUAGE  ating music to be so accessible! For example, anyone   and lyrics—it can be an escape, a source of encourage-
        with an Apple device has access to an app called Ga-    ment, a creative outlet, a container allowing for space
        rageband where you can create original music. It is an   to process, a way of connecting to a higher power/cre-
        app that I use a lot in music therapy sessions. Not only   ator, and an avenue for self-expression.
        is it easier to create music with new technology, but it
        also has allowed musicians to reach larger audiences    ZGP: Can music unify people from diverse back-
        of people through platforms such as YouTube, social     grounds?
        media apps (Facebook, Instagram, etc.), and TikTok.     CW: Of course! Different types of music and dif-
                                                                ferent musicians have unified people from diverse
 Global Harmony  ZGP: Can the world learn something from the    backgrounds for centuries! Often, people who have

                                                                opposing beliefs, or are from very different places/
 Interview with Chloe White  harmonious relationship between diverse notes   backgrounds can agree or find common ground with
        played together, rather than alone?
        CW: Beautiful music is made up of integrated, mov-      musical preferences. Musicians like Prince, Freddy
        ing parts that create textures, rhythmic push and pull,   Mercury, and Dolly Parton have such diverse fan bases
 ZGP: What made you want to become a   throughout the lifespan—from premature babies in   dissonance and consonance. While hearing one note at   and unify people from so many different backgrounds.
 musician? Early influences?   the NICU to hospice patients in end of life.   a time may be beautiful, the musical diversity is what
 CW: Music was instilled in me from a young age. My   creates harmony and interesting sounds. I believe this   ZGP: In your opinion, in what ways can music
 mom is a band director who raised my sister and me   ZGP: What are some of the therapeutic qualities   idea can be a metaphor for life—individually, we are   spread kindness?
 to experience all types of music and prioritized mu-  for the performer and the listener?  all beautiful and unique human beings, however, when   CW: I consider music to be a universal language and
 sical training throughout our childhood. We went to   CW: Performing music allows the musician to express   diverse humans come together, we complement each   a shared human experience. Even if two people speak
 Kindermusik classes with my mom from the time we   themselves and pour their passions, creativity, and   other, learn from each other, and have the opportunity   different languages, they can hear the same music
 were babies until we started school, and most of my   soul into the music they are creating. Listening to mu-  to create global harmony.   and find a human connection through that experi-
 early childhood memories involve music in some way.   sic is an avenue for so many wonderful human expe-  ence. Just as we were talking about how music unifies
 I started piano lessons at five years old and had a piano   riences; it allows people a chance to connect with the   ZGP: If there wasn’t any music to go by and you   people from diverse backgrounds, that alone is a way
 lesson with the same teacher every week until I grad-  lyrics or melodies, stirs emotions to the surface, brings   had to create it – how would you start? How   music spreads kindness to those we love and those
 uated high school. Then in middle school, I started   communities of people together to feel less alone,   important is musical influence? Today and going   who may be different than us—all by experiencing a
 playing flute and have played for over 12 years now.   encourages through hard times, lifts your mood, and   forward?  shared love of music. Song lyrics can also spread posi-
 My piano and flute teachers taught me so much more   so much more.   CW: If I had to create music and had nothing to go by,   tive messages that encourage kindness.
 than just music over the years and I am blessed to   I would go with my gut instinct because I think that
 have them as mentors and major influences in my life.   ZGP: Is there a genuine connection between mu-  immediate response is something raw and original
 Listening to or making music has always existed as a   sic and the soul or the mind? Is it transformative?   and is not meant to be overthought. Musical influ-  Chloe White is a native of Jackson, TN. She
 part of my everyday life so I did not have any second   In what way?  ence is important, but I think it is important to use   attended Belmont University in Nashville
                                                                            to major in music therapy and returned to
 thoughts about continuing that into my career.   CW: There is 100% a connection between music and   other music as influence and not to replicate, because   Jackson after 4 years to complete a 6-month
 the mind and music and the soul! Have you ever lis-  it’s already been done. This might be a hot take, but I   music therapy in-

 ZGP: Any hobbies outside of music?  tened to music and gotten chills? Or teared up/gotten   think at this point, music is only evolving. Pretty much   ternship at the STAR
 CW: My hobbies include baking sourdough bread,   a lump in your throat when you heard certain lyrics or   everything has been done before, and there is not   Center, Inc. She gradu-
 embroidering, travelling, antique shopping, going to   pieces of music? Or even repeated song lyrics in your   much new that is being created. To me, the pinnacle of   ates in April 2021 and
 concerts, trying new foods/restaurants, hiking, and   head to encourage or pump yourself up? These are all   artistry is when someone can use their musical in-  is planning to start a
 spending time with friends and family.   examples of how music affects the mind and the soul!   stincts and influences to create music that has evolved   Masters in Music Ther-
 Aside from these experiences, there is so much re-  by putting a different spin on what has already been   apy program in the fall
 ZGP: Can you define music therapy for those who   search about how music is processed in the brain and   done, overdone, or become mainstream.   through Saint Mary-
 may not know?  it is fascinating (check out neurologic music therapy!).                      of-the-Woods College
 CW: Music therapy is a research based profession   The way music is processed in the brain can literally   ZGP: What would the world look like if there was   in Indiana. In her free
                                                                                              time, Chloe likes to
 where the therapist uses music as a therapeutic tool   transform and create new neural pathways- how cool   not music at all? Is music more than voice and   go antique shopping,
 to address non-musical goals such as communication,   is that?!  instruments? Can we find music in other places?  bake sourdough bread,
 emotional expression, physical rehabilitation, social   CW: Music is a way of expressing one’s soul, so if there   travel, spend time outdoors, and hang out
 deficits, cognitive skills, and so much more. You don’t   ZGP: How has technology increased access to   were no music, I believe that human beings would find   with friends and family!
 have to be a musician to benefit from music therapy!   music? Has it increased an ability for anyone to   different ways to express themselves through other art
 Music therapists work with all types of populations   create music?
 98  www.zoegracepublishing.com  ZGP Magazine  ZGP Magazine  www.zoegracepublishing.com                          99
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