Why call ourselves “etude?”
An etude is a musical piece meant to work on a specific skill. This word, etude, felt appropriate for a business focusing on music therapy - since music therapy uses music as the vehicle for therapeutic change.
Our story
With decades of research and thousands of practitioners, music therapy is a widely recognized field with a long history. Etude LLC was founded by Daniel Goldschmidt (they/them) with a steadfast commitment to anti-racism, equity, and centering othered identities in their music therapy practice. We acknowledge that music has been used as a tool for healing and growth by diverse cultures for thousands of years, and Board-Certified Music Therapy represents one form of this practice. At Etude LLC, we strive to honor this rich history while also embracing innovative approaches that prioritize the well-being of our clients.
Daniel has extensive experience in the field, having run a successful music therapy private practice in Richmond, VA for four years, and having provided services for multiple large corporations and non-profits. Etude LLC is Daniel's latest venture to continue their success, and it is rooted in their unwavering ethics and values.
At Etude LLC, we are committed to honoring the musical traditions of all who seek our services, while also actively working to challenge the white-centeredness that has dominated much of musical scholarship. We offer equity-based pricing and sliding scales, and we actively seek partnerships with community organizations and local government to provide funding so that anyone who desires music therapy services can access them. Our mission is to make music therapy accessible to all who need it, regardless of their background or financial circumstances.
Meet the Team
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Nathan Fry, MM, MT-BC (he/they)
CONTRACTOR
Nathan Fry (pronouns: he/him & they/them) originally hails from New Mexico and has lived in multiple states across the south and southwest before moving to Saint Paul, Minnesota, where he currently resides. Nathan began his journey with music at the early age of 5 in taking piano lessons and has always been drawn to music and the piano. Receiving scholarship for music performance, Nathan obtained a B.A. in psychology and a B.M. in piano performance from Texas Lutheran University in the winter of 2013. During his undergraduate years, Nathan participated in many music ensembles,
including gospel, mixed, and chamber choirs, jazz band and wind ensemble, taking on leadership roles, solos, and other collaborative opportunities whenever possible, as well as leading and co-leading
psychology research projects, presenting findings and data at annual regional conferences, and obtaining grants for working on publishing research. Nathan went on to study music therapy at Colorado State University, completing his coursework and internship before becoming a music
therapist-board certified (MT-BC) in 2017 and completing his master’s degree in music therapy that same winter. Nathan specializes in looking at how music impacts the neuroanatomy, and in turn the
whole physiology, of an individual to determine how best music therapy can support that person.
Following a person first and individualized approach, Nathan enjoys the work of seeing how each client or patient uniquely engages with and benefits from music therapy, doing his best to incorporate an understanding of the whole person in his sessions. In his own time, Nathan enjoys spending time
outdoors and appreciating nature, cooking and making meals for family and friends, and creating fun and safe spaces in table top board gaming for people to play in. Regardless of where he ends up,
Nathan tries to help those around him feel supported, safe, and valued, whether diving into a fantasy game, in session with a client, or hosting a meal for friends. -
Julia Lopez-Kaley, MA, MT-BC (she/her)
CONTRACTOR
Julia Lopez-Kaley (she/her) has been a music therapist for 13 years, having received bachelor's and master's degrees in music therapy from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College. Julia is also a trained spiritual director/companion and completed a yearlong apprenticeship in Energetic Ecology/Reiki energy work. In addition to formal education, Julia's relationships within the community and with clients and coworkers in a variety of contexts informs and shapes how she shows up for folks as a therapist. Most recently, Julia's music therapy work has been primarily with folks at the end of life and those living in their elder years. Julia is interested in the ways spirituality, connection, and all aspects of humanness are present within relationships, personal and collective transformation, and within musical expression and creativity. When she's not working, Julia loves to be outside, baking bread, doing creative projects, and being with friends and family, including her two little niblings.
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Tatum Kline, MT-BC (she/her)
CONTRACTOR
Tatum Kline (she/her) has been a board certified music therapist since May of 2020. She attended Augsburg University where she completed a Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy and a minor in Psychology. Tatum went on to intern with Allina Home Health and Hospice, working with adults in hospice care. While completing her undergraduate studies, Tatum also had the opportunity to participate in Augsburg’s Chunmaio Pediatric Burn Camp in Chongqing, China where she worked with children and teens who experienced burns. As part of this experience, Tatum worked alongside music therapists from China, Taiwan, and the United States. Since then, Tatum has worked with individuals across the lifespan. She has supported clients with various diagnoses including dementia/Alzheimer’s disease, Down syndrome, attention deficit disorders, autism, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, mental health diagnoses, learning and intellectual disabilities, and genetic disorders. In her free time, Tatum enjoys spending time outdoors through hiking and camping, traveling, and reading.
Our Founder:
Meet Daniel Goldschmidt MM, MT-BC (they/them) - a music therapist who's committed to constant growth and doing better each day. Daniel believes in breaking free from binary thinking and challenging societal norms that box us in.
A board-certified music therapist since 2013, Daniel has worked with individuals from all walks of life - from toddlers to centenarians, people from diverse racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds, neurodivergent folks, LGBTQIA+ communities, and people with various other identities.
Daniel earned their Bachelor's degree in music therapy from the University of Kansas in 2013, followed by a Master's degree (with a graduate certificate in gender, power, and difference) from Colorado State University in 2020. They have served on various boards and committees, most recently a two year term with the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee for the Great Lakes Region of the American Music Therapy Association.
Daniel's dedication to education and advocacy extends far beyond music therapy. They've completed trainings in music cognition research, music therapy and autistic folks, and a 40-hour training on advocating for victims of sexual assault. Daniel has delivered keynote speeches, trainings, and presentations around the world, including keynotes on addressing white supremacy in healthcare in South Africa, Manitoba, California, and Minnesota. They've also given talks on music cognition and musical intervention, including keynotes for the Virginia Association of Licensed Child Placing Agencies, the Virginia Occupational Therapy Association, and a TEDx talk.
Beyond their work as a music therapist, Daniel performs with Brass Solidarity, an anti-racist street band based in George Floyd Square in South Minneapolis. You can also find Daniel playing piano and singing with various bands and improv groups in the Twin Cities.
Daniel is proud to collaborate with organizations that meet the values of Etude LLC. Daniel’s work with Camp Indigo Point (a camp for gender expansive youth) has been featured on Good Morning America and the New York Times. Daniel organizes with neighbors in South Minneapolis to help neighbors keep their homes. Daniel also is on the board of and performs with Brass Solidarity - a protest band founded in George Floyd Square to support the movement to support Black lives.
You can listen to Daniel being interviewed for podcasts including Who the Folk?! on queerness and starting Etude LLC (available as audio or on youtube), AMTA Pro on music and harm, The Mindful Mentor on examining whiteness, anti-racism, and whiteness accountability , and Instru(mental) on bridging music therapy and music cognition.