My name is Zachary Brown, I am a grade 12 student at Sir John A. MacDonald secondary school, and an aspiring music therapist. Earlier this week I got my first impression of what music therapy in action looks like.
This week I had the incredible opportunity to volunteer at a longterm care facility in Hamilton, Ontario. The music therapist at the long term care facility, graciously allowed me to shadow her as she ran a group session with 10 of the residents. As Laura sang and played her guitar for the residents, they joined in with percussion instruments, their voices, and many smiles. As...
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...
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...
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...