Music as a Path to Success

by Deb Urso

Deb and her husband, Tony, were excited to welcome their son, but the joy of his arrival was darkened by Tony’s diagnosis with cancer. When their son was only fourteen months old, Tony passed away.

Tony had been an avid and well-known musician, and Deb wanted to find a way to give that same gift of music to their son. As she searched for places to help her son learn music, she also needed financial support to make it possible. She found The Music Settlement.

Her son started in a beginners guitar club—and The Music Settlement even offered a guitar to her son to help him get started. She then secured a scholarship for summer lessons for her son, and then for a year’s worth of private lessons. Now, music plays a vital part in her son’s development, just as it had been a huge part of her husband’s life and passions.

Deb’s son is neurodiverse, and music is something that he responds very positively to. It calms him. It brings him joy. It provides an outlet for expressing his feelings. Music has also helped him develop patience and understand the value of working toward something you want. Now, as he progresses in his music capabilities, he is proud of himself and his accomplishments.

Deb said, “Without The Music Settlement, I would not have the tools I need to help my son grab onto music education, and their financial assistance made that possible.”

Share Your Music Story

We all need stories that move us. To help others recall their own stories and inspire them to share those stories. We need stories to invite others into our community of people transformed by the power of music. What is your music story? How has music changed you?

Share Your Music Story