We were lucky to catch up with Abbie Palmer recently and have shared our conversation below.
Abbie, appreciate you joining us today. Can you share an important lesson you learned in a prior job that’s helped you in your career afterwards?
I am also a board-certified music therapist and I previously worked in hospice care. Hospice was my first job out of college. Something I learned, while offering music therapy to terminally ill people as my full time job, was to never let time pass where you feel like you could be doing something more fulfilling. To really live every day to its fullest. So I follow my dreams, and my dreams change a lot. Currently I just started vanlife, so I am now a full-time musician, living in a van, being in nature and following my passions day by day :)
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I write original music and I teach improvisation styles on harp. I am a remote music teacher from my van I live in (I teach harp, piano, guitar and voice) and I also write a new piece of music every single day. I perform with at least 3-5 Celtic-related bands and creative endeavors (also accompany Irish step dancing, etc) and I post on social media my original music every day. The biggest service I provide is remote music lessons and performing. And while I got my degree from a music conservatory in Classical harp, I specialize in more creative outlets. I think because composition and writing are such a big part of being a board certified music therapist, which I previously was when I had a full time job.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I almost quit playing the harp in college. I ended up going to a Classical conservatory because at that time there were no programs for Celtic harp, which I had started on. Though I simply don’t mix well with pre-arranged Classical music or orchestral music. I wanted to put my own spin on it, and I loved composition and improvisation. When I really hit that crossroads though, I just buckled up and dug in. I tend to do that, I just have to get mad enough to plow through the challenge. But later in my career I learned that it’s ok if I simply don’t compute with Classical style music, and I prefer to create my own.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Going from a full time job in music therapy to full time freelancer! It was a challenge, and equally hard because I even love my career in music therapy. But being a freelance musician opened so many doors for new opportunities and to truly create the job and career that makes the most sense to me. I may one day go back to full time music therapy, but for now I’m really enjoying traveling, gigging, exploring, teaching, writing, etc. full time
Contact Info:
- Website: https://abbiepalmer.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbiepalmermusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abbie.palmer.140193/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@abbiepalmermusic
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/abbiepalmermusic?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@abbiepalmermusic
