Exploring Life & Business with Carly King of Discovery Music Therapy, LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carly King.

Carly, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was always drawn to music as a kid. The house was usually full of it. I grew up taking violin and piano lessons from a young age and with my older siblings as well. In middle school I started writing more music, making up songs and lyrics. By high school, music became my only outlet.

I originally did not want to to go college for music but I didn’t know what else to do. I went to UGA declaring a violin performance major and wanting to also do music composition. But to get there, I had to get As in music theory and that was my downfall. But then I discovered music therapy, and my interest was piqued because of my gravitation towards psychology and my revitalized love of music.

I graduated 5 years later, ,but I was so burnt out that I did not go directly into my field. Instead, I taught music privately through a lesson studio and explored my singer-songwriter side, giving performances and recording music. A couple years went by and I finally decided to return to finish my music therapy internship. Covid hit as I was finishing up my internship, and with the knowledge that I was moving soon to Gwinnett county with my partner and probably out of boredom, I decided to start a music therapy business. Fast foward 3 years later and after working at multiple studios and getting my feet wet in the music therapy business world, I now own my own small practice in Peachtree Corners, Ga!

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Absolutely not. There have been a lot of speed bumps and failures along the way, both in my personal life, my art life, and my business. There have been lots of tears and wanting to give up, lots of worries about the future, about making it work, about my field being taken seriously. There have been so many learning curves about owning and running a business, the consistency it requires as well as the boundaries, and so many lessons in self-confidence and believing in myself as a musician, therapist, artist, and a businesswoman.

We’ve been impressed with Discovery Music Therapy, LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
DMT offers music therapy services for children as young as 2-3 and teenagers with developmental disabilities. Most of my clientele is children with autism whose parents have identified that music is of huge interest to them. With that, music becomes a gateway to help children work on verbal and non-verbal communication skills, social and relationship skills, emotional regulation skills, and even some physical skills like fine and gross motor areas.

The children I work with are incredibly unique and different in so many ways. My primary focus when I first start meeting with children is creating a safe and affirming space for them, being aware of their sensory needs and their nervous system to build trust and a feeling of safety. My second focus is to build upon that trust to empower the child and families and give them tools they need to incorporate at home.

Brand-wise, I am most proud of how I strive to build my business on empathy and understanding. I try my best to understand not only my clients but their families and cultures as well.

I also work with geriatric populations, such as those with neurodegenerative diseases,, such as dementia, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. Music can help connections from deteriorating in the brain, and produce calmness, and revitalize memories associated with the music.

What does success mean to you?
This is a good question. I don’t necessarily perceive finances as a determinant of success, because in this field I am conscious of exploitation. So to me, success is growth and progress. Success is the journey, being better today than you were yesterday, storing up knowledge and growing as a better human. In the end, that’s what matters most.

Pricing:

• Individual Music Therapy 30-60 mins, $55-80
• Traditional/Adapted music lessons, 30-60 mins, $33-65

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.discoverymusictherapy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/discoverymusictherapy/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discoverymusictherapyllc

Image Credits
Katy Bryant