CURRENT MISSION

Figure out the "why's and how's" of music... WHY does this sound sad? Happy? and HOW can this be manipulated to help others? Here is a TEDx talk I did on the subject: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3m4mtzTJ-5E

ABOUT ME

I was a music therapist in Richmond, VA for four years. Now I am in Fort Collins, CO doing my Master's in Music Therapy at CSU!
I love music theory, composing, and playing piano (amongst many other musical things). I dig spoken word poetry, and I generally interact with the world through art. I've also done some research in music cognition and neuro-music therapy.

PHILOSOPHY

Life is Balance.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I surfed a bit a few Summers ago on a road trip.

Interests

MUSIC (music theory, music cognition, music therapy, performance, composition, piano, voice, guitar, song leading, etc.), emotion, poetry, people, technology, Radiolab and other podcasts.

• arts
• poetry
• performing arts
• technology
• painting
• podcasts
• music
• guitar
• piano
• spoken word
• freelancing

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: All musics have something worthwhile. Anyone who says a blanket statement of "I hate X type of music" is being pretty closed-minded.
Rachmaninov, Earth Wind and Fire, Janelle Monae, Frou Frou, Michael Jackson, Ben Folds 5, Brahms, Beyonce, Oscar Peterson, Film scores (Williams, Zimmer, Giacchino), Blackalicious, James Taylor, Ella Fitzgerald, Art Tatum, Barbra Streisand, Poulenc, Prokofiev, Arvo Part...

Shows: Sherlock, New Girl, Orange is the new black, Arrested Development, Big bang theory, HIMYM, I love Psych but I have never watched it religiously (Atheist joke here is appropriate)

Books: Sweet anticipation, anything by Etgar Keret, Harry potter 4-7, Feminist perspectives in music therapy, Half the sky, Ready Player One

Movies: Anything by Christopher Nolan (You can judge, I love getting my mind blown!), Coen Brothers movies, most films by Pixar, classic Disney musicals (anything Alan Menken, that glorious man)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

On my latest trip to Israel, I pulled myself through a hole barely bigger than my torso underwater, backwards, in a cave, in pitch black. It was the scariest thing I have EVER done. Totally worth it.

In Thailand I got beat up by two elephants. It was at one of those elephant riding places, and I was volunteered during the 'show' where they paint pictures and do tricks. They told me I would be receiving an 'elephant massage.' They told me to lay down on my back, and an elephant came over and gently stepped on me. This was mostly okay. After this, I started to stand up, and they told me to lay back down; they brought over the largest elephant. It balled up its trunk over my abdomen, swung up and started punching me in the stomach. As the audience laughed, I got beat up by this big ol' elephant. Most of the punches landed in my abdomen area, but a few hit me in the chest, and a few in the groin. It was funny... but I probably wouldn't call it fun, and I absolutely wouldn't call it a massage.

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach: music theory, piano, voice, guitar, music in film, music cognition, some psych, soldering, sound equipment/recording tech, some computer-ee stuff.

learn: ANYTHING about the brain, MORE about music, I'd be down to learn anything really.

Countries I’ve Visited

Bulgaria, Ireland, Poland, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Israel, United States

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