Millburn High School Student Creates Website to Help People on the Spectrum Navigate Music Therapy

MILLBURN, NJ — Angela Cui, a Millburn High School senior, is a talented singer and piano player. She discovered the power of musical therapy while teaching a 9-year-old girl how to play piano.  The girl is on the autistic spectrum, and Cui found the girl’s response to music very inspiring. She decided to create a website with music, music therapists and resources about music therapy.

She spoke about her music student, “When I first met her, she was pretty shy and didn’t say much. Talking wasn’t easy for her, and staying focused was a bit of a challenge. I decided that interest is the key, and asked her if she would like to share with me some songs that she liked personally,” shared Cui. She added, “I remember her eyes lit up, and she blurted out many names like ‘Think of Me’ from ‘Phantom of the Opera,’ ‘My Favorite Things’ from The Sound of Music, and an upbeat children's song ‘The Ants Go Marching.’”

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Cui said that she began customizing music lessons and incorporating her student’s favorite songs, which captivated the girl’s attention. “Later, she would run to the doorstep when I arrived, wave goodbye when I left and even shared videos of herself singing and playing the piano,” Cui mentioned.

The girl’s mom told Cui that music therapy sessions are difficult to book and quite expensive. Her daughter had done it but stopped. Cui wanted to help. “I created a platform where people can easily access therapeutic music and find reliable information, even if they couldn't afford music therapy sessions. With this realization, I began researching, brainstorming and implementing my website.”

The site features research-based playlists, important research, blogs and community forums. She showed her site to music therapists, and they offered helpful suggestions. Cui hopes many people will benefit from the resources on her website and connect with others having similar experiences.

Cui also hosted a web seminar , in which she discussed music therapy and the resources on her website.

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She performs at senior living homes regularly and finds it very rewarding. Cui and her friend organized a classical voice show at a local community nursing home over the summer. “I felt overjoyed and had a sense of purpose when the elders sang along enthusiastically and invited us to come back. These experiences further fueled my passion for music, and I want to use my passion to give back to the community in meaningful ways,” stated Cui.

She was also a sectional leader for a youth choral and worked with children ranging from middle to high school in small 1-on-3 sessions each week. “I went over the music with them line by line to ensure they could follow along and understand their parts. If necessary, I will also record my own singing as practice tracks for children to use in their free time,” said Cui. She found working with students extremely rewarding, like performing for senior citizens.

In college, s he plans to study math, music and their applications in the real world. Cui noted, “I hope to creatively use what I have learned to benefit more people and promote progress in our society.”

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