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 As a recording artist, I use music to express the emotions and thoughts that I have inside of myself. Whether it is an emotion of happiness or sadness, there is something great about sharing it with other people.

          I recently created a song called “Show Some Love”. It is an upbeat pop and R&B song that is about self-care and not giving up on yourself. I remember while I was writing it, I wanted to make a song that would uplift peoples' spirits when they were feeling down for a day, depressed or even suicidal. I wanted this song to encourage anyone who hears it, and to remind them they are not alone and to reach out to somebody if they need help.

         I have experienced depression and it was such a dark place that I felt like I could not tell many people about. I was often the friend who was considered the “strong one,” so I felt I was not even allowed to feel this way....

Check out this informative overview of music therapy and music's impact on wellbeing, from Will Tottle of My Audio Sound in the United Kingdom. 

"Music has been with us for thousands of years as a form of entertainment, communication, celebration, and mourning. There are so many different emotions that music can help us to express, and it is a language that we share universally, as well as one that everyone can understand.

The style of music that we listen to most and enjoy may change every decade, but that sense of communication and feeling always remains. If you, or someone close to you, suffer from mental health conditions, you may find that they listen to music quite a lot, or even play it.

Music has a way of helping us express emotions that we don’t even understand ourselves, and can put these feelings into meaningful lyrics, or just a tune that resonates with every fibre of our being. 

For many, music is a lifeline that keeps them tethered to the world, and...

On May 20th, 2018, the OMTA’s Founder & Director of Education, Rachael Finnerty, was interviewed on 900 CHML's “The Health and Wellness Show”.  In this interview a variety of music therapy's benefits are discussed. Emphasis is placed on how to maintain and improve health & wellness across the lifespan. The conversation also includes what training is required to become a music therapist, and how professionals can work collaboratively to reach healthcare goals using music. Music is promoted as an accessible medium that offers POSITIVE experiences, detached from the stigma that often surrounds seeking or receiving mental health help. 

Listen to the interview here! 

The workshop concluded with experiential learning where participants engaged in an example of Dr. Diane's Vocal Psychotherapy techniques. The example showed how through the Vocal Psychotherapy training, one...