The music of Shelby Tweten has helped her through life’s deepest valleys. This sensational 17-year-old states on her Facebook page that music has changed her life. Now, she wants her music to change the lives of others as well.

Her singing is definitely making an impact already. Her audition for American Idol 2012 in Aspen, Colorado brought tears to judge Jennifer Lopez’s eyes as she exclaimed how beautiful Tweten’s singing was. Tweten earned a Golden Ticket to Hollywood with her stirring audition.

Tweten is currently a student at Mankato West High School in Minnesota. The Mankato Free Press describes her life as a musician and dancer in her hometown. It states that she was often asked to sing the national anthem at various events. One of these events was Mankato Moondogs. She is also a dancer and member of the West Orchesis Dance Team.

The valleys in Tweten’s life have been much deeper and more difficult than her bright eyes show. The wide-eyed, enthusiastic blonde has had more than her fair share of hardships. She disclosed her battle with bipolar disorder and depression to the camera crew of American Idol who visited her in her hometown, North Mankato.

She explained that it causes her to stutter and sometimes even lose control over her body, but that singing helps her through these difficult times. This was evident in her audition – there was no sign of stuttering as the beautiful blonde sang Carrie Underwood’s “Temporary Home”.

A study claimed that music therapy in people with mental health problems is aimed at creating inspiration and motivation in the patient, amongst other goals. On BipolarTrip.com, fellow sufferer of bipolar disorder, “Roxy Roller”, claims that music therapy improves the quality of life of bipolar sufferers.

Roller states, “Music can help bring back confidence in one’s life, as well as improve one’s self-esteem levels.” Furthermore, Roller is convinced that music therapy brings about positive changes in a sufferer’s mood and emotional states.

Music seems to have been a therapeutic device in Tweten’s own struggle with bipolar disorder. Singing has helped her overcome many obstacles with which this disorder has presented her. During her Idols audition, she told the judges that her mom would sing with her during her hypo-manic episodes. “I’ll sing and it, like, really helps,” she said with a smile on her face. Even before she sang to the judges, she told them, “It’s made me so happy and gotten over so much stuff.”

Now Tweten wants to share that power she discovered in music with the world. “It’s really important to me because I do want to show people that bipolar doesn’t define who you are,” she explained to the Idols crew who visited her hometown. Music has helped her live a normal life, even though she is a bipolar sufferer.

Through music and American Idol, she can show the world that bipolar sufferers are just like the rest of us, and this message can extend to people suffering from any kind of disease or disorder.

Image Courtesy of   https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shelby-Tweten/234082806624505

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About the author

Karin Meyer
Karin Meyer is currently completing a postgraduate degree in music at Stellenbosch University, where she works as a student lecturer and accompanist. She is passionate about bringing South African news to the world and providing a South African perspective on world news.

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