AK Skillin

Music Therapy, Guitar, Piano, Ukulele, Electric Bass

Education/Certifications/Awards: 

• Master of Arts in Music Therapy, Immaculata University
• Bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy, Georgia College & State University
• Board Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC)
• DBT-informed trained therapist
• Songwriter of the Year at GCSU Awards (2020)
• John Philip Sousa Award, Stratford Academy (2018)

Music Teaching/Therapy Experience:

• Worked as a music therapist, including memory care, assisted living, and oncology patients, in both home and facility visits
• Provided adaptive lessons for guitar, piano, and ukulele for kids ages 8-19
• Taught at various summer camps, teaching music in a group setting
• Assisted and led the Creative Expressions concerts, a partnership between GCSU music therapy students and the Life Enrichment Center in Milledgeville, as part of an internship (2023)

Performance Experience: 

• Previous guest member of the band The Star Gazers (2022-2023)
• Performed in the band for the Creative Expression concerts (2019-2023)
• Played bass guitar in her church choir band, Exodus, touring around Florida in the summers (2013-2019)

AK Skillin is a music therapist and music instructor across various instruments, including acoustic guitar, electric guitar, electric bass, ukulele, and piano. She teaches across multiple genres, including alternative, rock, indie, pop, blues, and country.

As both a music therapist and a music instructor, AK has a unique way of teaching that reaches the whole person. “I wish to build people’s self-esteem and collaborative skills through music, teach Dialectic Behavioral skills, and foster a deep love of music,” they explain.

“I always find common ground with my clients and help them cultivate a deep love of music,” she continues. “I try to get my clients thinking like a music theorist from the beginning, and show them how important having fun can be while practicing.”

AK has made an album with some friends to use as a puzzle for a Dungeons & Dragons game she was leading. But AK’s creative expression expands beyond music. “I love to take things from my mind and make them a reality, whether that’s in the form of crochet, costume design, collage making, drawing, or writing,” they explain. AK has two cats named Saturn and Venus. 

AK shares that she shows her love through book recommendations and playlist curation. Similarly, their advice for students is, “Love the music you make, and find ways to make your music sound like you.”