Kate Whitefield: By performing for her community, singer and senior Kate Whitefield discovered her interest in Music Therapy

Five-year-old Kate Whitefield constantly belted songs around her house and even begged her parents to let her sing acapella at the school talent show as a kindergartener. But growing up, she was always the quiet kid in the neighborhood — never playing or messing around with the kids on the street.

She’d be shocked to see her now-senior self starring as the lead in the school musical, just months away from packing up to move to the “Music City” of America — Nashville, Tenn. — for college at Belmont University to major in Music Therapy.

Music has always been a way for Kate to connect and share her passion, whether that’s giving guitar lessons to little kids or hearing her little neighbors across the street ask their Alexa, “Hey Alexa, play Kate Whitefield on Spotify.”

Kate frequently performs at local coffee shops like Homer’s Coffee, bringing a change of mood to the normally busy and chaotic environments. Allowing others to connect through her music is one of the things she hopes to accomplish through her future in music therapy.

“I was doing a music gig at Homer’s Coffee House, taking a break in the middle of a set, when I started talking to a woman in scrubs, who I could tell worked in a hospital,” Kate said. “I mentioned how I was going to major in music therapy at Belmont next year, and she told me how there were music therapists at the hospitals she worked at, and how they always brighten peoples’ day.”

The evidence-surrounded therapy uses music interventions to help patients with cognitive issues like depression, autism and Alzheimer’s, as well as physical issues, according to Kate. Music therapy steers away from the usual tests and examinations patients are having in a medical facility and provides a new element of relaxation, self expression and creativity.

“Mainly I hope to connect with people through music, help them with whatever issues they may be facing and help them find some sense of contentment through music,” Kate said. “I’m particularly interested in working with older people and learning how music functions in memory.” 

Kate’s mom, Andrea Whitefield was the first person to mention and introduce music therapy to Kate in middle school. Ever since then, music therapy has always been in the back of her mind, according to Kate.

“One of my good friend’s nieces is a music therapist and Kate reminds me a lot of her,” Andrea said. “I thought it was so interesting that she could take something she is so passionate about and turn it into a career that helps people.”

When it came time for Kate to envision where she saw herself attending college next year, she did her research, finding Belmont as the perfect fit.

“I’m just so excited to be in Nashville and [to be] exposed to such great music,” Kate said. “As well as being surrounded by so many great people who are interested in the same type of music that I am, so I can learn from them and hopefully they learn through me.”