Peter Meyer's Pay-It-Forward
Donation protected
Peter Meyer received a B.M. in music therapy from the University of Minnesota in 2004. Mr. Meyer received his M.A. in music therapy from St. Mary-of the-Woods College in 2008. He has presented at the American Music Therapy Association's (AMTA) Great Lakes, Western and Midwestern Regions. Mr. Meyer has presented on music therapy at the Huntington's Disease Society of America's national conference. Peter has been a professional guitar player over fifteen years. During this time he has taught private and group lessons. He has studied guitar with W.C. Handy award winners Paul Rishell, Ronnie Earl and John Cephas. In addition, he has shared the stage with James Cotton, Roomful of Blues, Ronnie Earl and W.C. Clark. In addition to his clinical work, he is currently teaching guitar, percussion and improvisation at St. Mary of the Woods College since 2011, guitar at St. Cloud State University since 2014 and improvisation at Wartburg College since 2015. From 2008-2014, he has taught clinical improvisation, guitar, percussion, keyboard and world music at Augsburg College.
Impressive, right? What is even more impressive is that Pete's heart and generosity surpass any past or future professional accomplishment. He has, still does, and always will #gobeyondgiving. Already a notable music therapist among esteemed colleagues in the music therapy community, Pete is known for his willingness to share his knowledge and love for music to those who are not able to pay to play. Through MusicLink, Pete provides almost free lessons to those who normally cannot afford to buy an instrument or pay for lessons in which to learn their instrument of choice. Yes, I said "almost free". Why "almost" especially if they cannot afford lessons to begin with? Well, Pete firmly believes that if there is an investment from the very start, then there will be a gain to be had. Well, Pete has certainly made an investment in his music therapy community.
Pete has volunteered countless hours, tirelessly pursuing to advocate for the music therapy profession on the Assembly of delegates, on committees for standards of clinical practice and for diversity. He has served and continues to serve on many boards to be the voice of his peers and colleagues as past MN State President, past public relations officer, and current member-at-large. He defends his beliefs that a profession can only be as strong as those who are its members. Yet, more from Pete's own words directly is to follow this post shortly.
Why is Pete being sponsored for a gofundme page? Most recently during a session with a client, a sudden blood clot sent Pete's heart into atrial fibrillation. At the hospital, they found a collapsed lung. On September 12th, Pete was sent home in stable condition, given many orders from colleagues and friends to "take it easy"! On Monday, September 19th, Pete was rushed back to the hospital when his heart went back into atrial fibrillation. As of this morning, Pete still remains home. We hope he takes his friends' words to heart and continues to rest! His hospital stay, treatment, and care will put serious strain on his family's finances and limit Pete's ability to return to work at the high demanding level to which he pushed himself on a daily basis. The money will be used directly to pay for any medical bills already incurred, as well as future tests and follow-up visits to maintain Pete's health. Additional dollars not directly used towards his hospital stay will help Pete recover any financial losses from being out of work while recovering, and offset income he could have earned while operating at less than his usual grueling level at or above full-time hours to support his family, travel advocating and representing the music therapy profession, and time spent volunteering to teach young musicians the joy of creating music.
By meeting or surpassing our goal, we would ease any financial stress for the family, but we would return Pete's life motto through his example of "pay-it-forward". If your life has been connected to Pete professionally, musically, through friendship, through teaching, writing, laughter, or even by sharing a beer together, then you have probably beena recipient of his "pay-it-forward" mentality. It's now time to give back to Pete and RE-Pay it forward! Please give what you can, come join us and the "Better Than Karaoke Band" for a live Karaoke experience [event link coming soon], or donate simply because you believe in the truth that the world needs more music. Pete has and will continue to dedicate his life to sharing his music with the world and teaching others to make this world more beautiful through music. That is why. Thank you.
Impressive, right? What is even more impressive is that Pete's heart and generosity surpass any past or future professional accomplishment. He has, still does, and always will #gobeyondgiving. Already a notable music therapist among esteemed colleagues in the music therapy community, Pete is known for his willingness to share his knowledge and love for music to those who are not able to pay to play. Through MusicLink, Pete provides almost free lessons to those who normally cannot afford to buy an instrument or pay for lessons in which to learn their instrument of choice. Yes, I said "almost free". Why "almost" especially if they cannot afford lessons to begin with? Well, Pete firmly believes that if there is an investment from the very start, then there will be a gain to be had. Well, Pete has certainly made an investment in his music therapy community.
Pete has volunteered countless hours, tirelessly pursuing to advocate for the music therapy profession on the Assembly of delegates, on committees for standards of clinical practice and for diversity. He has served and continues to serve on many boards to be the voice of his peers and colleagues as past MN State President, past public relations officer, and current member-at-large. He defends his beliefs that a profession can only be as strong as those who are its members. Yet, more from Pete's own words directly is to follow this post shortly.
Why is Pete being sponsored for a gofundme page? Most recently during a session with a client, a sudden blood clot sent Pete's heart into atrial fibrillation. At the hospital, they found a collapsed lung. On September 12th, Pete was sent home in stable condition, given many orders from colleagues and friends to "take it easy"! On Monday, September 19th, Pete was rushed back to the hospital when his heart went back into atrial fibrillation. As of this morning, Pete still remains home. We hope he takes his friends' words to heart and continues to rest! His hospital stay, treatment, and care will put serious strain on his family's finances and limit Pete's ability to return to work at the high demanding level to which he pushed himself on a daily basis. The money will be used directly to pay for any medical bills already incurred, as well as future tests and follow-up visits to maintain Pete's health. Additional dollars not directly used towards his hospital stay will help Pete recover any financial losses from being out of work while recovering, and offset income he could have earned while operating at less than his usual grueling level at or above full-time hours to support his family, travel advocating and representing the music therapy profession, and time spent volunteering to teach young musicians the joy of creating music.
By meeting or surpassing our goal, we would ease any financial stress for the family, but we would return Pete's life motto through his example of "pay-it-forward". If your life has been connected to Pete professionally, musically, through friendship, through teaching, writing, laughter, or even by sharing a beer together, then you have probably beena recipient of his "pay-it-forward" mentality. It's now time to give back to Pete and RE-Pay it forward! Please give what you can, come join us and the "Better Than Karaoke Band" for a live Karaoke experience [event link coming soon], or donate simply because you believe in the truth that the world needs more music. Pete has and will continue to dedicate his life to sharing his music with the world and teaching others to make this world more beautiful through music. That is why. Thank you.
Organizer and beneficiary
Christina Brantner
Organizer
Minneapolis, MN
Peter Meyer
Beneficiary