MUSIC THERAPY

Music therapy is the skillful use of music and musical elements by an accredited music therapist to promote, maintain, and restore mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health.

Music has nonverbal, creative, structural, and emotional qualities. These are used in the therapeutic relationship to facilitate contact, interaction, self-awareness, learning, self-expression, communication, and personal development. — Canadian Association for Music Therapy

Children, adolescents, adults and seniors can all benefit from music therapy. Music Therapy may be a powerful tool for supporting individuals with:

• Developmental Delays
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Learning disabilities
• Cognitive Impairment and Traumatic Brain Injury
• Physical Impairment
• Emotional and/or behavioural disorders
• Mental health support needs during troubling life events, substance abuse, grief and trauma and other illness
• Stroke/ Alzheimer’s/ Dementia

Music therapists tailor each session and program to meet the unique individual needs of the client. Some examples of how music is used:

• Singing for communication, speech and language skills, articulation, breath control, expression and reception
• Playing instruments for fine and gross motor control, social skills through participation and interaction, self-esteem and connection to a group
• Kindergarten readiness or academic support skills using music, such as letter, number, and colour identification. As well as following lines and symbols on a page from left to right.
• Song-writing, composition, improvisation, lyric analysis for self-expression and connection to culture or community