BY TERI R. WILLIAMS PHOTOS BY RUTH ENGLISH
Everyone in Malorie’s family either sang or played
an instrument or both. Music was at the center
of all her childhood memories from church
gatherings to family reunions. She grew up in
Warner Robins, Georgia, but visited Vidalia often. “My
father’s name is Richard Morris. He grew up here,” said
Malorie. “He was one of seven children, so I had all these
older aunts and uncles. We were always coming to Vidalia
for different family functions, and music was a big part of
that. I always enjoyed the way music gave the children and
the elderly so much joy.”
Like many college freshmen, Malorie was undecided
on a major. When she started classes at Georgia College
and State University in Milledgeville, Georgia, she declared
herself a business major simply because it would benefit
her in any career. It wasn’t that she didn’t know her own
heart. Malorie always knew she wanted to bring comfort
and encouragement to those in need. But as for any good
college student, the real quest is to choose something that
will bring both fulfillment and an income that validates the
investment of all that college tuition.
After a few months, Malorie decided she would pursue
a degree in education. She loved children, and teaching
was certainly a way to fulfill her desire to serve. She had
just begun to shift directions when a friend invited her
to sit in on a music therapy session. “Georgia College and
the University of Georgia are the only two colleges in the
state of Georgia that offer a degree in music therapy,” said
Malorie. “I had heard about it, but I really didn’t have any
idea what it involved.”
The class was made up of students from the school and
adults with intellectual disabilities from a nearby daycare
facility called the Life Enrichment Center. “They were
divided into groups with the music therapy students and
met together each week. Each group had a different musical
focus. For example, there was a wheelchair group called the
‘Rock and Rollers,’ a drumming group, a singing group, and
a hand bell group. Each group practiced all semester long
for a concert with the students at the end of the semester.
Tangible life skills were integrated into each song they
performed.”
According to musictherapy.org, “Music Therapy is an
established health profession in which music is used within
a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional,
cognitive, and social needs of individuals.” As a profession,
this type of therapy “formally began after World War I
and World War II when community musicians of all types,
both amateur and professional, went to Veterans hospitals
around the country to play for the thousands of veterans
suffering both physical and emotional trauma from the
the Value
of a
Song
HOMETOWN LIVING AT I TS BEST 23
Using the power of
music to reach those
who are suffering.
/musictherapy.org