PHOENIX (Nov. 12, 2024) – Angel Lee, a 17-year-old Banner Academy student, has a passion for beat making. His DJ name is “Tafoya.”
“Music is in Angel’s blood,” says his mom, Jackie Lee. “When Angel started making beats, it was very raw, but he persevered and learned as much as he could on his own, collaborating with others, and through his music therapy class at Banner Academy, slowly, he has been able to make the music sound the way he feels it should.”
Banner Academy’s music therapy program supports students with both emotional disabilities and autism spectrum disorder by addressing challenges related to communication, emotional expression, motor skills, social interaction and connection, and stress reduction. More than 90% of students take part in the music therapy program at Banner Academy, which is a nationally accredited private school in Tempe, Ariz., that educates children with autism and learning disabilities.
National Center for Complimentary and Integrative Health data states that there is increasing evidence suggesting that music-based interventions may be helpful for conditions including anxiety, depression, autism spectrum disorder, among others that occur during childhood, adulthood, or with aging.
Banner Academy’s music therapy classes haven’t just helped fuel Angel’s passion, it’s also served to heal some of Angel’s deepest struggles.
“The struggles I have had come from years of being an angry person. My anger management skills were low to non-existent when I first arrived at Banner Academy,” recalls Angel, who lives in Scottsdale. “Beat making has given me an outlet to focus my energy in a good way. If I wasn’t beat making, I would be outside causing real damage and trouble.”
Angel’s mom, Jackie, echoes those thoughts.
“Angel came to Banner Academy with a lot of baggage,” says Jackie. “He has struggled with mental health issues that have been in his family for generations. He has always had a very kind and lovable side but had hidden that side away as a defense mechanism for several years. Thankfully, when Angel started at Banner Academy, he had worked through a lot of difficult stuff and was open to developing himself in a whole new way.”
Now on a path toward self-acceptance and healing, Angel is learning how to give back to the students at school.
“Teachers and students alike all recognized Angel's talents in this area,” says Banner Academy music therapist Emily Bruso. “In fact, his passion for beat making inspired his peers to want to try it for themselves which helped make the beat making music therapy class a popular choice in the program. Once the class started, Angel rose as a student leader.”
As Angel looks toward graduation and the future, he hopes to own his very own record label by 35, maybe even on the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community, where Angel is originally from.
“I am not going to let a rough start to my life stand in the way of me doing great things with my future,” Angel says. “Banner Academy has always been there for me, and the music program has given the added push to do great things in life.”
About Banner Academy
Banner Academy is a nationally accredited private school in Tempe, Ariz., with a long history of educating children with autism, and emotional and learning disabilities. The school caters to students 4th through 12th grade. The school offers a therapeutic setting for students with trauma-informed practices that promote a safe and welcoming climate. The learning environment is structured and predictable with built-in interventions and therapies to address social emotional deficits. Banner Academy maintains a small student population and focuses on building positive relationships between teachers and students and facilitating healthy and appropriate peer interactions. Banner Academy’s music therapy program exists due to a grant from the Banner Health Foundation secured by school principal Judy Subaitis.
About Banner Health
Banner Health is one of the largest, secular nonprofit health care systems in the country. In addition to 33 hospitals, Banner also operates an academic medicine division, Banner – University Medicine, and Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, a partnership with one of the world’s leading cancer programs, MD Anderson Cancer Center. Banner’s array of services includes a health insurance division, employed physician groups, outpatient surgery centers, urgent care locations, home care, and hospice services, retail pharmacies, stand-alone imaging centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation, behavioral health services, a research division and a nursing registry. To make health care easier, 100% of Banner-employed doctors are available for virtual visits and patients may also reserve spots at Banner Urgent Care locations and can book appointments online with many Banner-employed doctors. Headquartered in Arizona, Banner Health also has locations in California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming. For more information, visit bannerhealth.com.
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