Grad’s path went from cancer patient to piano prodigy

Alexis Martínez has been playing piano for 14 years, but his journey to the keyboard was a little more arduous than normal.

The average starting age for piano students is between 6 and 9, and like many kids, he took piano lessons when he was in the second grade.

"But I didn't take it seriously," Martinez said. "It was very recreational."

"I remember being compromised because of the chemotherapy and just not being able to do normal childhood activity and being isolated," Martínez said. "My birthday was in July, and I was gifted a keyboard so I started learning on YouTube and trying to make use of my time. A nurse recommended a program called Musical Angels. So I took lessons from them and that's how I started. I never thought it would light a passion in me, but I practiced three, four hours a day. It just took my mind off everything else going on at the time. It was a much needed focus."

Martínez recovered from cancer and continued his piano studies, eventually participating in music festivals and competitions.

"After I left the hospital, I kept practicing, continued my studies and enrolled in private lessons," he said. "I entered competitions for high schoolers. I figured contest winners are those who started when they were prodigies. They're little Mozarts. I kind of had that in the back of my mind the entire time. But I had a really good piano teacher and I started winning some of these festivals, and when I started winning and really excelling, I figured this is for me."

He was featured on Fox 4 News, The Dallas Morning News, Good Morning Texas, and on D-The Broadcast as guest performer and speaker on how his musical experience helped him beat cancer. Plus, he started winning scholarship money. Suddenly, music was a way to further his college education.

In 2016, Martínez received the Clara Freshour Nelson Music Scholarship award administered through the Texas Association of Music Schools. In 2017, he received a grant to study at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest, Hungary, and in 2019 he was initiated as a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, a national music organization that focuses on the advancement of music in America.

The passion next evolved into a livelihood. After earning a bachelor's degree in music, he began teaching piano. He became an instructor and the general manager at the Dallas Music Academy.

Martínez studied music therapy in hospital, developmental and psychiatric settings. He supervised music therapy training for children with autism, attention deficit disorder and other special needs. He also has supervised training using music for psychological rehabilitation.

But to forward his career as a board-certified music therapist, he needed a master's degree. He considered SMU, the University of North Texas and Texas Woman's University, and took trial lessons with professors at each.

"I really enjoyed Dr. Schuster (TWU professor Richard Shuster, DMA)," he said. "I think it was a combination of my willingness to learn and just the quality of the professor that really was the best combination. When I came to Texas Woman's University, I said, this is it."

Now with his master's degree in hand, is a PhD next?

"You know, it's funny because I thought I wouldn't get my master's, but here I am. So a PhD is a possibility. Right now I'm interested in just being in the field and serving the community."

Page last updated 12:32 PM, December 3, 2024