Using music to break barriers

NAME: Lydia Weippert
CLASS YEAR: 2024
MAJORS: Music education and music therapy

ON-CAMPUS INVOLVEMENT: Women’s Golf Team, Wartburg Choir, Dance Marathon 

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE WARTBURG: I chose Wartburg because it offered the dual music education and music therapy degree. I also liked the tight-knit community and how welcoming everyone is.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR MAJOR: I chose to do both music education and music therapy because I simply love everything that both professions have to offer. I love helping others and being able to use music to break barriers and reach new goals. I have always wanted to be a teacher ever since I was little so I was excited that I could fulfill my dreams of being a teacher as well as learning more about music therapy and what I can do to help heal others with music. Both professions work together, and I can take what I learn from both and apply it to one another.

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER GRADUATION: For my music therapy degree, I am required to do a six-month internship, so my internship will be at Noteable Music Therapy in Lakeville, Minnesota. 

Lydia Weippert

HOW DID WARTBURG PREPARE YOU FOR THE NEXT STEP: By providing hands-on experiences right away my freshman year. Wartburg wants you to have meaningful experiences as soon as possible, so I found it very helpful that I was already working in the field by the end of my freshman year and into my sophomore year doing field experience and music therapy practicum. This helped me get a better understanding of what I was working toward and getting to experience what it’s like in the real world.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WARTBURG EXPERIENCE: Singing in the Wartburg Castle in Eisenach, Germany, with the Wartburg Choir during May Term.

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU NEVER IMAGINED YOU WOULD DO BEFORE COMING TO WARTBURG: One thing that I did at Wartburg that I never thought I would do was play golf for the Wartburg golf team. After graduating high school, I thought my days playing competitive golf were over and that I wouldn’t continue to play into college. However, I loved the idea of a D3 school and being able to be involved in many different activities such as golf and choir. I am so blessed that I was able to continue my golf career in college, meet new people, and continue to get better as a golfer.

WHO HAS BEEN A MENTOR FOR YOU ON CAMPUS: Dr. Lee Nelson was a huge role model as an educator and leader. He is a phenomenal leader and is always thinking of others before himself. He strives for excellence and expects that we do the same in our own lives as educators and human beings. I have taken so much away from his teachings and his leadership through the choir.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS: Don’t be afraid to get involved and meet new people. Coming from out of state, to college in 2020 no doubt, was scary. However, joining the golf team, along with choir and other activities, allowed me to meet lifelong friends that made my Wartburg journey so special. Challenge yourself to meet new people and get to know those in your classes. Wartburg is a small, tight-knit community so it is easy to have and make lots of friends.