Shown above: Michelle Wolff and Amber Bruno from the Guitar Center Music Foundation (second and third from left) with music therapists Sarah Reinke (far left), Dan Stafford (third from right), Chang Chun “Alice” Chiang (second from right), Leah Cruz (far right), and Lake Anthony (front)
Nine-year-old music prodigy Lake Anthony Wyman brought his talents to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital this month. Lake plays keyboards and drums and produces music, building a following across social media, where his musical performances have racked up millions of views.
Lake’s visit was thanks to the Guitar Center Music Foundation, which marked the day by donating instruments to Packard Children’s music therapy program, which offers roughly 445 music therapy sessions each month.
“Music therapy helps children cope with their hospitalization, express their feelings, and manage pain and anxiety,” says Chang Chun “Alice” Chiang, MA., MT-BC, manager of Creative Arts Programming at Packard Children’s. “This generous donation helps our team to incorporate more new instruments into our sessions.”
True to his love of performing, Lake held a recording session in the hospital’s Broadcast Studio. They created content for children to enjoy from their hospital rooms—giving kids a chance to experience the internet superstar’s music and story from their own beds.
Lake’s gift for music includes a rare neurological trait called synesthesia—the ability to see music, in color, as he hears it. During the session, Lake described in real time the colors he saw as different pieces of music played. He also explained how he builds music using GarageBand, offering young patients a glimpse into his creative process.
The visit wrapped up with a tour of the research lab of Juliet Knowles, MD, whose research benefits children such as Lake’s younger sister, Duet, who has beta-propeller protein-associated neurodegeneration (BPAN), a rare and complex neurological condition. To raise awareness and funds for BPAN research, the Wyman family founded Duets Across America. Their foundation supports the NBIA (neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation) Disorders Association, which is collaborating with the Stanford School of Medicine to advance Dr. Knowles’ research.
We’re grateful to Lake and his family for spending the day with us, and to the Guitar Center Music Foundation for their generous donation to our hospital’s music therapy program.
