From Music Therapy Client to Airport Pianist

For one music therapy client, James Johnson, performing in front of a crowd is not what he, his therapist, and family would have expected as an outcome of music therapy.

For one music therapy client, James Johnson, performing in front of a crowd is not what he, his therapist, and family would have expected as an outcome of music therapy. 

After all, “Music therapy is using the power of music to accomplish individualized, non-musical goals,” shares James’ music therapist, Yue Wu. She has been working with James for more than 10 years to help him reach his non-musical goals related to living with moderate-severe autism — such as meeting his emotional, cognitive and social needs through creating, listening to, and playing music. 

James’ parents recognized early in his life that he had an affinity for music. “James’ language is limited, and his goals are non-verbal, but music is his strength — he has perfect pitch and learned to play piano at an early age,” shares James’ mother, Joy. “Even at age two, James wouldn’t respond to his name, but we could see he really responded to music. When Elmo was on TV, he would run to the TV and laugh and dance,” Joy reflects. 

Early in James’ music therapy journey, Wu and Joy recognized that James was lacking motivation. Joy thought that if they gave James the opportunity to participate in something he felt was more purposeful, he would be more motivated. So, he began volunteering to play piano at senior living communities. He performed at 10 different facilities over the course of two years. “He has never told us he likes praise, but you can just tell [after a performance] when the residents would clap, he really enjoyed it…With success in music, his self-esteem is boosted,” says Joy. 

Performing for community members not only gave James purpose and brought joy to his audience, but it also provided him with the confidence and skills to perform in a paid capacity as a professional pianist. In 2018, the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport offered him a job to play for travelers in the terminal once a week. Additionally, James has built a clientele for whom he performs piano on a regular schedule. This has led James to live a more meaningful and independent lifestyle, using his music to connect with others. 

Inspired by students like James, Wu founded the nonprofit Light in the Well, which creates performance opportunities for musicians with disabilities and helps audiences better understand their experiences. James has performed with the group while continuing to grow through music therapy and his studies at Normandale College. 

“People with disabilities need to be seen, heard and understood,” Wu shares. “Then people want to care about and know them.” 

Thanks to the generosity of donors who make student scholarships possible at MacPhail, James received an Iverson Inspirational Merit Scholarship in 2025-2026, honoring how his music brings joy, connection and meaning to the community around him.