Spring Break
Student uses voice to express feelings, help others
Amy McKewen
Issue date: 4/2/07 Section: Features
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As a sophomore music therapy major, O'Brien is learning how she can improve the quality of life for others through the use of music. Her applied voice teacher, Lauren Saeger, has been working with her for four semesters and said she really puts her heart into her music.
"She makes music because it fills her soul and makes her happy. Her main goal is to help people with her music though," Saeger said.
O'Brien is currently doing a practicum in a middle school where she works with people with cognitive delay and autism.
She is interested in helping individuals with behavior, cognitive or physical disorders by having them participate in music activities.
"If someone needs to learn to walk more regularly or even to just say 'thank you,' these musical activities can help them reach that goal," O'Brien said.
Since she and her family sang and played music for entertainment when she was growing up, O'Brien never really took any lessons. She said it was difficult for her to make the transition when she came to ISU for music therapy because she never really learned how to read music.
"I actually didn't take any lessons until I got to college so I had a lot of catching up to do" she said. "It was incredibly challenging."
Much like her work in music therapy, O'Brien has her audiences participate in musical activities when she performs as well. She may play a new song without words and involve the crowd by asking them for ideas or even have them sing along with her.
"It makes me more comfortable," she said. "I've been lucky enough to have some really fun, attentive listening crowds in the last couple of years. So that makes it really fun for me."
Though O'Brien plays musical instruments, there is one in particular that she incorporates into her music.
"Listening to jazz vocal artists really started to give me ideas. It's all about using your voice as an instrument," she said.
Many of O'Brien's songs show how she has learned to use her voice as an instrument. However, she said that writing songs is a form of self-expression for her. It is a way for her to discuss issues that are important to her, like self-image and materialism.
"Sometimes I get discouraged about how materialistic we are. There are a couple of bitter references in my songs about how we're not taking care of the things that really count," O'Brien said.
"It's easier for me to complain about those things through song," she said. "I think that's how I get out the things that upset me or things that I need to discuss."
Saeger agrees that O'Brien does not just write songs about issues that she does not care about, but rather puts her whole heart into it.
"Lynn means everything that she sings and really pays attention to what she is singing about."
O'Brien also uses humor as a tool in her music.
"It makes you more comfortable and really gets your message across," she said. "It engages people and they begin to really listen to the lyrics. To have people who will listen or appreciate them is really validating."
Saeger described O'Brien as a fun, bubbly person who always has a smile on her face. She said that O'Brien displays that through her music.
"She takes what she does seriously, but she also has fun with it. She has some fun, silly lyrics that really match her personality," Saeger said.
Some of those lyrics can be heard on her debut CD "Umbrella," which was released last summer. She worked side-by-side with a recording engineer and 10 other musicians to complete her CD since it was a new experience for her.
"We spent every waking hour of the summer, non-stop for two and a half months, working on my CD. I don't think I've ever worked so hard for anything," O'Brien said.
In addition to the 10 musicians who helped O'Brien finish her CD, her family was also quite helpful. Her father actually played the guitar and her family sang on the last song on "Umbrella" called "All My Troubles Are Bubbles."
"I grew up being immersed in music and singing harmonies with my family," she said. "They inspire me and are incredibly supportive."
The album title shares the name with the first song on the CD. O'Brien said that the song itself works well as an introduction song, demonstrating the different instruments on the CD and giving a feel for what style of music she plays.
Furthermore, she said that an umbrella really symbolizes the way she feels about music.
"Music gives me a place to be and shields me from a lot of things," O'Brien said. "I was always told 'if you don't feel good, just play music.'"
She said the best way to write a song is when she wakes up or sits down and an idea and tune just comes to her.
"Sometimes I'll sit down and tell myself 'Lynn, you need to write a song right now.' I'll just start playing and saying something and if it goes together, it's a song."
O'Brien is fortunate enough to have the opportunity to share these songs with crowds in Champaign. She said she is very active there and that they even play her songs "Tangerine" and "Italy" on the radio quite frequently.
She recently had a show at the Cage II Coffeehouse, which was her first one on campus since the beginning of the semester. O'Brien said she has only done a couple of gigs at ISU but hopes to do more in the future.
She also plans to travel and study abroad before she graduates. Since she is interested in helping people, she said that her future plans also include being a music therapist and a hospice worker. She is currently taking hospice training at BroMenn Regional Medical Center and said that one day she hopes to work with people at the end of their lives.
As far as music goes, she said that she will definitely make more CDs and learn more instruments.
"I have so many new songs that I'm really looking forward to," she said.
For more information about O'Brien's album and future gigs, log on to Facebook, MySpace or lynnobrienmusic.com.
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