Our Founder:
Meet Daniel Goldschmidt MM, MT-BC (they/them) - a music therapist who's committed to constant growth and doing better each day. Daniel believes in breaking free from binary thinking and challenging societal norms that box us in.
With over a decade of experience in music therapy, Daniel has worked with individuals from all walks of life - from toddlers to centenarians, people from diverse racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds, neurodivergent individuals, LGBTQIA+ communities, and people with various other identities.
Daniel earned their Bachelor's degree in music therapy from the University of Kansas in 2013, followed by a Master's degree (with a certificate in gender, power, and difference) from Colorado State University in 2020. They have served on various boards and committees, most recently as a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee for the Great Lakes Region of the American Music Therapy Association for two years.
Daniel's dedication to education and advocacy extends far beyond music therapy. They've completed trainings in music cognition research, music therapy and autistic folks, and a 40-hour training on advocating for victims of sexual assault. Daniel has delivered keynote speeches, trainings, and presentations around the world, including discussions on addressing white supremacy in healthcare in South Africa, Manitoba, California, and Minnesota. They've also given talks on music cognition and musical intervention, including keynotes for the Virginia Association of Licensed Child Placing Agencies, the Virginia Occupational Therapy Association, and a TEDx talk.
Join Daniel on their mission to break free from binary thinking and create a more inclusive world through music therapy and education in equity.
Daniel is proud to collaborate with organizations that meet the values of Etude LLC. Daniel’s work with Camp Indigo Point (a camp for gender expansive youth) has been featured on Good Morning America and the New York Times. Daniel organizes with neighbors in South Minneapolis to help neighbors keep their homes. Daniel also is on the board of and performs with Brass Solidarity - a protest band founded in George Floyd Square to support the movement to support Black lives.
You can listen to Daniel being interviewed for podcasts including Who the Folk?! on queerness and starting Etude LLC (available as audio or on youtube), AMTA Pro on music and harm, The Mindful Mentor on examining whiteness, anti-racism, and whiteness accountability , and Instru(mental) on bridging music therapy and music cognition.
Why call ourselves “etude?”
An etude is a musical piece meant to work on a specific skill. In western classical music training you will be given etudes to develop skills for your instrument - for example, Etude no. 9 by Chopin addresses left hand dexterity for a pianist. This word, etude, felt appropriate for a business focusing on music therapy - since music therapy uses music as the vehicle for therapeutic change, regardless of musical background.
Our story
With decades of research and thousands of practitioners, music therapy is a widely recognized field with a long history. Etude LLC was founded by Daniel Goldschmidt (they/them) with a steadfast commitment to anti-racism, equity, and centering othered identities in their music therapy practice. We acknowledge that music has been used as a tool for healing and growth by diverse cultures for thousands of years, and Board-Certified Music Therapy represents one form of this practice. At Etude LLC, we strive to honor this rich history while also embracing innovative approaches that prioritize the well-being of our clients.
Daniel has extensive experience in the field, having run a successful music therapy private practice in Richmond, VA for four years, and having provided services for multiple large corporations and non-profits. Etude LLC is Daniel's latest venture to continue their success, and it is rooted in their unwavering ethics and values.
At Etude LLC, we are committed to honoring the musical traditions of all who seek our services, while also actively working to challenge the white-centeredness that has dominated much of musical scholarship. We offer equity-based pricing and sliding scales, and we actively seek partnerships with community organizations and local government to provide funding so that anyone who desires music therapy services can access them. Our mission is to make music therapy accessible to all who need it, regardless of their background or financial circumstances.
