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Small Town Girl Changing Lives of Individuals with Autism in Salt Lake City, Utah

AMES, Iowa – According to the article by Kurt Hanson, “The prevalence of autism within Utah,…1 in 50 8-year-old children identified with autism.” Autism is a neurologic condition that makes communication difficult for individuals as well as, form relationships with others, and use language and abstract concepts.

Photo: Ravell Call, Deseret News

While using music therapy, individuals with autism can overcome the challenges they face everyday. Rachel Kucera was raised in a small town of Solon, Iowa where she found her passion when her grandfather was in a nursing home. He wasn’t able to speak, but Kucera saw first hand how music therapy could spark the inner life of her grandfather. It was from that moment on Kucera knew her passion.

She attended Wartburg College where she received a degree in Music Therapy and Music Education. After three years in Salt Lake City, Utah, completing coursework as well as working with a variety of populations, Kucera started her own business as a private music therapist. Kucera grew affection for the Autism population and using music therapy to help these individuals achieve their goals. Some of the individuals were interested in learning how to play an instrument and this led to Kucera’s passion in adaptive music lessons. This is when Kucera developed Ignite Music Therapy, LLC featuring music therapy as well as lessons for all individuals wanting to learn.

The name Ignite comes from the deep emotional connection individuals have to music. Dr. Daniel J. Levitin, a neuroscientist, musician, and author, depicts why music moves us, “…how much music activates the brain…Music lights up parts of the brain that control movement, attention, planning, and memory.” Children with autism have an incredible connection with music; music improves cognitive and social skills for children with autism.

A parent of one of Kucera’s clients said, “I didn’t think she would ever be able to speak and now she is singing karaoke with us and saying words like “medicine”! It is all because of music therapy! It encouraged her to start talking and it was just a starting point and her language skills have been growing so rapidly ever since. Thank you!”

Saving lives is common in the medical world; however, music therapy is saving lives in its own way.

Facts

• Rachel Kucera, SCMT, MT-BC, is a board certified music therapist and licensed music educator.
• Kucera offers her services in Salt Lake Valley Area in Utah.
• Music therapy is the skillful use of music and musical elements by an accredited music therapist to promote, maintain, and restore mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health
• Kucera’s business, Ignite Music Therapy, LLC, offers: o Individual music therapyo Group music therapy o Music lessons
  o Consultations
  o Presentations
• According to Autism Council of Utah, there are 1 in 54 children are diagnosed with autism and 1.5 million individuals are diagnosed with autism in the United States.o While according to the article by Kurt Hanson, “The prevalence of autism within Utah,” “…1 in 50 8-year-old children identified with autism.”

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