We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lindy Welch. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lindy below.
Alright, Lindy thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?
I’ve always wanted to be a music therapist, but right out of high school the idea of moving far from home to pursue that dream felt too risky. Instead, I stayed closer to home and built a 25-year career as a music educator. At the age of 48, I made the bold decision to retire from teaching and pursue a Master’s Degree in Music Therapy. Not only was this a major career change later in life, but I also chose to take an even bigger leap: rather than working for an established music therapy company, I started my own business. With no prior business experience, I trusted my vision of building a private practice where I could develop my own programs and choose the clients I served. That leap of faith is what allowed me to create the fulfilling career I had always dreamed of.
Lindy, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’m a Board-Certified Music Therapist with a lifelong passion for using music to heal, connect, and transform. Before stepping into the world of Music Therapy, I spent 25 wonderful years teaching both instrumental and vocal music where my strength was the connection I made with my students. While I loved my time as an educator, becoming a music therapist in 2020 felt like coming home — it’s truly the work I was created to do.
My journey into Music Therapy began at a young age when I witnessed firsthand how powerful music can be in the healing process. My mother faced many physical and mental health challenges throughout her life, and it was music that rehabilitated her and brought comfort, connection, and even moments of joy to me and my family in the midst of hardship. That early experience planted the seed that would eventually grow into my career.
Today, I work with individuals and groups navigating neurological and mental health challenges, using music as a tool to support emotional expression, cognitive development, physical rehabilitation, and overall well-being. Whether it’s through group singing, songwriting, movement, or simple listening, music becomes a bridge — unlocking parts of the brain and heart that words alone often can’t reach. I often say, “Your brain and music are best friends” and “I’m in the business of happy brains.” Those aren’t just cute phrases — they reflect the very real, science-backed ways music can change lives.
What sets my work apart is the depth of connection I build with my clients. I don’t just provide a service — I form meaningful therapeutic relationships that foster trust, safety, and transformation. In every session, there’s a bit of magic as we witness music spark something new — a memory, a movement, an emotion, a smile.
I’m most proud of the space I’ve created for people to feel seen, heard, and supported through music. Being part of their healing journey is a privilege I don’t take for granted.
To anyone considering working with me, I want you to know that this is more than a job — it’s a calling. My work is grounded in compassion, clinical training, and a lifelong love of music. Whether you’re seeking support for yourself or a loved one, I’m here to help music help you.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
I believe the foundation of my reputation has been authenticity. I don’t look at people through the lens of their diagnosis, disability, addiction, or mental health condition — I see the person first. I look at their heart, their journey, and what makes them them. Music is just the tool I use to connect on that deeper, human level.
In every session, my goal is to make each person feel truly seen and valued. I currently work with hundreds of people each month, and I make it a point to know each of them by name. Their favorite songs, their stories, the things that make them light up — those matter to me, and I hold them close. It’s not unusual for staff at the facilities I work with to express surprise that I can remember so many individuals, but for me, that’s where the work starts: in that real connection.
That genuine care and personal investment are what I believe have helped build my reputation here in Northern Colorado. It’s been an incredible gift to watch the business grow — expanding into 9 cities now — and I know that growth is rooted in trust, relationships, and a consistent commitment to showing up with heart, every single time.
Have you ever had to pivot?
My entire career as a Music Therapist is the result of one major life pivot. For 25 years, I worked as a music educator, and while I loved teaching, I always felt a pull in my heart toward Music Therapy. It was something I had been passionate about since I was young, having seen firsthand how music supported my mother through her physical and mental health challenges. Still, life took me on a different path — until I finally found the courage to step into the one I truly felt called to.
That pivot required a leap of faith. I could’ve told myself, “It’s too late” or “I’m too old to go back to school.” But instead, I literally laid down my school keys and chose to become a student again. In my late 40s, I returned to earn my Master’s in Music Therapy — a vulnerable but transformative decision. I had to relearn how to learn, sit alongside classmates who were the same age as my own adult children, and shift from a teaching mindset to a therapeutic one. It stretched me in every possible way.
Looking back, I’m so grateful I made the pivot. Those 25 years in education weren’t left behind — they came with me. The people skills, professionalism, ability to manage systems and expectations, and even my comfort in leading large groups — all of that has become a huge asset in my work today.
Taking that risk opened the door to what I now call my dream job. It was a big change, but it brought me into alignment with my purpose. And that’s a pivot I’ll never regret.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://overtonesmusictherapy.com
- Instagram: overtonesmt
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/OvertonesMusicTherapy
Image Credits
MeadowView of Greeley, High Plains Crossing of Greeley