Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Luiz.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My journey with music therapy began in high school. Ever since I was young, I always enjoyed the arts- visual arts, theatre, music, and more. Out of all the things I enjoyed as a child, the arts are where I truly grew and thrived. It gave me a chance to express myself and consistently get out of my comfort zone. It was something challenging, but where I had an innate ability. In high school choir, my director was speaking about job opportunities in music and mentioned music therapy. I thought it was a neat idea, but I didn’t think much about it until I was in college.
I began my college career at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, Ga in 2019. I enrolled as a theatre major, aspiring to become a high school theatre teacher. I initially loved the theatre program- I met some of my best friends, and even my now fiancé. There was so much life and diverse people in the program that expanded my small-town perspective. However, there was a problem. I was missing music desperately. I joined an a capella group at school to hopefully fill the void, but the program was shut down, and it didn’t satisfy what felt like where my journey in life needed to go. I desperately turned to God and my faith to see where my path needed to go. Where was God leading me? What signs was He pointing me to?
I was in an English class, where one of my group partners was a music therapy major. Intrigued, I asked more questions. I did more research. It was almost like a lightbulb moment where I realized I had another innate ability that I had forgotten about- helping others and having a strong sense of empathy. It wasn’t until then that I realized God was trying give me a strong sense of direction down the path of music therapy to use my gifts for good. That isn’t to say that music therapy in college was easy. I found that I had to devote a lot of myself to the program, giving up opportunities to make memories with my friends in school, and devoting so much time to my studies. At times, I wondered if it was a sacrifice I was willing to make. However, with my support system and with my faith, I am dedicated to continuing to put 110% into my studies to become the best music therapist I can.
At the end of your studies as a music therapist, you are required to interview for a 6-month internship at an American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) approved site or a college-affiliated site. My professors recommended Perfect Harmony Health to me. After researching their mission statement and who they are as an organization, I became very excited to learn more about them. Perfect Harmony Health is a 501(c)(3) organization that uses neurologic-informed music therapy to help youth and older adults. PHH primarily sees Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Down syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Parkinson’s Disease, and more. The wide range of diagnoses, age, and their mission to form a community through social programs were very intriguing to me. What a wonderful place to learn so many skills!
I’m grateful to share that after auditioning and interviewing for the internship—and upon completing it—I was offered the opportunity to continue with them as a professional! In all seriousness, I learned so much from this organization and continue to learn so much from them. My co-workers and my boss are absolutely fantastic, and we want each other to grow and thrive! I am so blessed to be in such a warm and inviting community where I can be challenged, but uplifted! So much so, I have been granted more tasks as their Engagement Specialist, where I am required to take charge in our social media and engage in building contacts and connections within our Atlanta community! I will complete my second professional year at Perfect Harmony Health in April 2026!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Aforementioned, my college experience to graduate as a music therapist was not the easiest. I had a lot of personal battles while juggling a lot of my studies at the same time. Throughout my life, I have been an extreme perfectionist, fully investing myself in everything I do, sometimes to the point of losing myself in the process. At the time, I was realizing college life was quickly passing me by, and I did not have the energy to work on my social life. While I was chasing straight A’s in my studies, I missed out on a lot of important things that didn’t involve staying in the practice room or studying for tests. I simply could not stretch myself any further than what I was doing. It was a very difficult time, to say the least. At multiple points toward the end of my college career and early into my professional career, I hit multiple breaking points, in which I had to take a step back from more things and attempt to try to take care of myself. Having those moments truly shows people’s true colors and shows loyalty. I am forever grateful for the people who stood by me during those dark times.
This is not to say that my studies were not important. The fact of the matter is, being a music major is not as simple as everybody thinks. In my eyes, it almost demands perfection- not just from the grades you make on your papers, but you are evaluated on how your body and your brain perform daily. With this challenging hurdle I faced, I learned that you need to take care of yourself, so you can continue to take care of others. In this time of my life, I have become a big self-care advocate! Go to therapy. Take your medications. Do things that give you life again. Call and check in on your friends. Asking for help doesn’t mean you’re weak; it means that you want to make yourself stronger.
As you know, we’re big fans of Perfect Harmony Health. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I currently work at Perfect Harmony Health, which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that focuses on music therapy for clientele ranging from babies to older adults. We utilize neurologic-informed care in our practice, meaning our work is grounded in an understanding of the brain and how music can support the development of transferable skills. We work with a variety of diagnoses, ranging from, but not limited to, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s and dementia, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and more. We work hard each day to make sure that therapy is accessible, because we believe that just because healthcare is innovative, it shouldn’t be a luxury. Thanks to our partners in the community, we can provide scholarships to our clients annually, and we are working hard to increase this opportunity to more individuals.
I am proud of our mission to provide a safe space and community for those with diagnoses. We aim to provide not only individual and group services for our individuals, but also social programs. One of my favorite programs that we offer is called Roswell Players, which is an inclusive musical theatre group where teens and young adults can come to rehearse for a show at the end of the year. Our show this year is Shrek the Musical Jr., and our actors are bringing so much excitement, self-expression, and hard work to every rehearsal. We also offer summer programming such as GROW (Girls Reaching Our World), which serves as a social music group for teen girls to build friendship and confidence. We are also featuring a new, rebranded program called “Neuro-vana,” which is where participants can learn an instrument and learn how to play with others in a band setting.
I believe that what sets us apart from others is our creative ability, our service quality, and our true care and passion for continuing to strive for a better world for our friends with diagnoses. What many people fail to realize is that, for this population, navigating the world can be incredibly challenging. It can be isolating, frustrating, and costly. This often leaves individuals feeling unheard or treated as though they are less than. This reality affects not only our clients, but also their parents and caregivers. At Perfect Harmony Health, we highly strive to presume competence, which means to give utmost respect and dignity when interacting with any of our clients. In this vein, we want to continue to advocate for our people and give them what they deserve- a safe space to grow with respect and empowerment. The world can be so hard, which is why we work to give people a place where they can feel safe, supported, and truly cared for and supported. For those interested in music therapy or adapted lessons at our clinic, we hear you—and we’re here to support you through something that is both fun and meaningful: music.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Through ongoing advocacy and the expansion of opportunities within the music therapy community, I see a growing shift toward music therapy being recognized as a major therapeutic modality—alongside speech, occupational, and physical therapy. As interdisciplinary collaboration continues to be emphasized, music therapy is becoming an increasingly valuable and complementary support to existing services. My hope is that, through continued advocacy, research, and development, the general public will gain a deeper understanding of how impactful music therapy can be in supporting social, academic, cognitive-motor, speech and language, sensorimotor, and many other goals. Music therapists are very qualified individuals who do more than just “play music.” Despite often being called “the music lady,” we are trained therapists who have completed 4.5+ years of schooling, passed a national board exam, and continuously engage with research to inform our practice—all while designing creative, individualized treatment plans for our clients. The more that we advocate, the stronger our presence will be in our community!
Pricing:
- Individual On-Site Hour $130
- Individual On-Site Half-Hour $90
- Evaluation/Re-Evaluation +$90
- Group Off-Site Hour $145
- Group Off-Site Half-Hour $105
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.perfectharmonyhealth.com
- Instagram: @perfectharmonyhealth
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/perfectharmonyhealth
- Linkedin: @perfectharmonyhealth
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/perfectharmonyhealth
- Other: Advocacy Instagram: @MelodiesforAbilities
Image Credits
Narda Sigala, Jude&Jojos Photography
