When international student Jue “Niki” Zhang was deciding where to get her Masters degree in music therapy she had plenty of options, including the University of Melbourne, but she chose SUNY New Paltz.
Growing up playing piano, Zhang has had a busy life since she was a child. In primary school, Zhang pursued swimming as well as piano so her days consisted of school, training and piano practice.
“I used to tell people I had no childhood. I remember everyday after school at 5 p.m. I needed to practice piano instead of going out,” Zhang said.
Even as a child, Zhang was sure this was what she wanted to do; her parents never forced her into music or pressured her to continue with it, she had decided to continue all on her own.
“In my whole family there are no musicians, I’m the only one that plays an instrument,” Zhang said. “I think there is a path you go through in life and when I was a child my mom didn’t tell me ‘you have to play more piano’ I told her I wanted to learn piano.”
Zhang continued on this path through high school where she attended Sichuan Conservatory of Music Affiliated Secondary School of Music for piano performance. After graduating from high school, she went to college for her Bachelor’s in music therapy.
“When applying for college my high school teacher told me there was a major called music therapy,” Zhang said. “So my teacher said it is a good subject and I was always curious how music could be therapeutic so that’s why I started to learn this subject, because of curiosity, and I believe there is always some alternative way to support conventional therapy.”
Zhang decided to learn the guitar in college as well as continue with piano because “it’s easier to carry a guitar to a clinical site.”
After studying music therapy in China, Zhang wanted to move on with her studies in New Paltz. She finally landed on New Paltz because of the reputations that the music therapy professors have. Zhang also knew that being so close to Manhattan and all of their clinical facilities would be extremely helpful in her career.
As far as adapting to New York, Zhang credits it all to the English as a Second Language classes she took her first semester at SUNY New Paltz. These classes provided conversation partners and activities to help with the language barrier.
“I couldn’t imagine if I started taking academic classes at the very beginning, how I would face that,” Zhang said.
Zhang is graduating at the end of this semester in May 2019 and has adjusted her plans for after graduation based on what she’s learned in her time at New Paltz.
“I think my dream has changed a little bit throughout the three years of studying music therapy. At the beginning I always wanted to do something big but I think throughout the three years I not only learned music therapy, but I think I learned about myself, what I want, what I need, what is good for me,” Zhang said. “I think for now I just want to take little steps every day, I just want to do something small and something good for people, good for myself. I help autistic kids and people with different types of challenges in my internship. Not only children with autism but also adults, older adults with alzheimer’s disease and some kind of trauma.”
Music therapy has been Zhang’s life for the past nine years, and while she’s ready to launch into her career, she’s also ready to launch into her own life.
“I think I’ll go back to China. I’ve been studying music therapy for about nine years, I think this subject you need to devote yourself a lot and I think I missed a lot of moments with my family. When I was born my mom was 42 years old so I think I want to go back and spend some time with her. I think I want to spend some time not being a music therapist, I want to be myself by doing something I like,” Zhang said.
Interview with Niki
I grew up in Sichuan Province, I lived there my whole life before coming here, I’m 24. Before 2016. I play piano and guitar. I grew up playing piano, I started learning piano since 5 years old. I learned guitar in college because it’s easier to carry guitar to a clinical site.
“What was it like growing up playing piano?”
I used to tell people I had no childhood. I remember everyday after school at 5 p.m. I need practice piano every day instead of going out. From sixth grade in primary school, so after school every day, I had to go to train because I was a swimmer before so I had training and then I go back home to practice piano.
“What was your schooling like?”
For piano I went to sichuan conservatory of music affiliated high school, so a music high school, learning piano performance. Then I went to college for music therapy.
“Why did you want to get your masters here?”
A few reasons. I was selecting between NP, the University of Melbourne and another university in Australia, and another one in New Zealand. I think one reason is the professors of SUNY NP have high reputations around the world. There are many good music therapy facilities here in Manhattan and New Paltz is just 90 minutes away, not that close but close enough.
“Why did you want to do music therapy”
My mother is a doctor so in my whole family there are no musicians, I’m the only one that plays an instrument. I think there is a path you go through in life and when I was a child my mom didn’t tell me ‘you have to play more piano” I told her I wanted to learn piano. When applying for college my high school teacher told me there was a major called music therapy, i think eight years ago, and not everyone knows music therapy. So my teacher said it is a good subject and I was always curious how music can be therapeutic so that’s why I start to learn this subject, because of curiosity and I believe there is always some alternative way to support conventional therapy.
“What was it like transition from china to NY?”
I think it was easy for my experience but because I took one semester of ESL class. The professors are very nice, not that my music therapy professors aren’t nice, but they bring chocolates, candies to class and we have conversation partners. Many activities for students so I think that’s the transition semester for me. I couldn’t imagine if I started taking academic classes at the very beginning, how I would face that. So I think ESL class is a very good transition for me.
“What do you want to do with your degree in the future?”
I think my dream has changed a little bit throughout the three years of studying music therapy because at the beginning I always wanted to do something big but i think throughout the three years I not only learned music therapy but I think I learned about myself, what I want, what I need, what is good for me more. I think for now I just want to take little steps every day, I just want to do something small and something good for people, good for myself. I help autistic kids and people with different types of challenges in my internship. Not only children with autism but also adults, older adults with alzheimer’s disease and some kind of trauma.
“Can you tell me about your family?”
My mom is a gynecologist, I have one older sister she works in business. When I decided to come here my family was actually under financial pressure so I was struggling, should I come here I think if I come here I need to spend a lot of money I probably cannot pay them back but my family they gave me a lot of support they said they don’t need me to do anything after I graduate they just want me to be happy and they thought this was a good opportunity for me that’s why I came here.
“Are you going to stay here or go back to China when you graduate in May?”
I think I’ll go back to China. I’ve been studying music therapy for about nine years, I think this subject you need to devote yourself a lot and I think I missed a lot of moments with my family. Not just because of music therapy, I think just as a student. When I was born my mom was 42 years old so I think I want to go back and spend some time with her. I think I want to spend some time not being a music therapist I want to be myself by doing something I like.