Music Therapy sessions are individualized and tailored to the needs and goals of the client. Generally, the initial 3-4 sessions consist of an assessment period in which your therapist will get to know you and will begin to establish a treatment plan in collaboration with you. The specific musical interventions of each session will vary depending on this treatment plan and based on the circumstances of the day. Some interventions may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Instrument playing

• Songwriting

• Lyric Analysis

• Song listening & Song sharing

• Meditation, breathing, and grounding techniques

• Verbal processing

• Improvisation

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Most people can benefit from music therapy regardless of ability, needs, age, and/or musical experience. Music Therapists use their knowledge of music and how it impacts our brains and bodies to help clients accomplish musical and non musical goals. You do not need past music experience to benefit from music therapy. The certified music therapists on our team have experience working with:

• Youth, young adults, and adults on the autism spectrum,

• Youth with learning challenges and attention difficulties,

• Youth and Adults with Intellectual or developmental disabilities,

• Older adults with Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of Dementia,

• Older adults dealing with anxiety, depression, and social isolation,

• Deaf/Blind community,

• Rehabilitation (Stroke survivors, TBI/ABI, Parkinson’s, ALS, Music Agnosia, Aphasia, Dysphasia, etc.),

• Grief/Bereavement/ Palliative care support,

• Mental Health support, coping, and non-pharmaceutical management strategies,

• Corrections (Juvenile and Adults),

• Members of the LGBTQia2s+ community,

• Abuse victims,

• Children and adults with PTSD or experiencing neglect (typically referred by a social work or community agency),

• Veterans,

• Individuals with Cancer and other forms of Chronic illness,

• BIPOC persons,

…and more.

While we understand the undeniable benefits of in-person connection, virtual music therapy sessions are an effective alternative when in-person sessions are not possible. For example, difficulties relating to travel, the weather, or government mandated restrictions can make it difficult to schedule or attend in-person sessions. We are pleased to offer remote session options using a HIPPA compliant platform. Your therapist will connect with you to communicate specific instructions and tips to make your online experience a successful one. Here are a few commonly suggested tips to think about when preparing for virtual sessions:

• Find a quiet place with minimal distractions to have your telehealth session.

  • Select a spot with good lighting. Avoid sitting with your back to a window, as that can darken your video image.

  • Make sure your web cam is hitting you at eye level.

• If able, keep a pencil and piece of paper handy to take notes or write down specific questions.

• Make sure to let your therapist know of any noise or connection difficulties you are experiencing so that you can troubleshoot together.

• Log in to your appointment 5-10mins early to ensure your device, audio, and video are working properly.

  • Check your sound, volume, and microphone to ensure nothing is muted and everything is operating properly.

• Use an external microphone and headphones if available and turn on original sound.

  • Your therapist can help you to locate “original sound” if you have difficulty.

• Inform your therapist of any instruments or therapy tools you have at your disposal for use during the session.

The primary difference is that goals in education are met by achieving a certain standard or level of proficiency. These goals are usually based on a standardized curriculum or institution expectations. In music therapy, goals are tailored to specifically meet the needs and abilities of those receiving therapy. In addition to this, goals in music therapy are typically a collaborative process based on the reason for coming to therapy. If the goals are not musical, proficiency or quality of musicianship is not a factor.

In addition, music education is typically conducted by someone with a background in teaching or music performance. Music therapy is conducted by a certified music therapist with training in physiology & psychology in addition to music.

Music therapists use the elements of music to create music-based interventions designed to address non-musical (and sometimes musical) goals for our clients. One such domain is the physical goal! If a client has a need to address a physical goal, a music therapist might be focusing on: Fine motor dexterity, Gross motor skills (with the aid of a PT or OT), Range of motion, Coordination, Balance, Endurance, Strength building, etc.

What interventions might a music therapist use to work toward this goal? Interventions might include instrument playing, movement to music, motion mirroring exercises, hand over hand, rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS), patterned sensory enhancement (PSE), therapeutic instrumental music performance (TIMP), and more.

If a client has a need to address a social goal, a music therapist might be focusing on: Level of engagement or interaction within a 1:1 or group setting (passive or active), Task attention/focus, Confidence in abilities, Ability to indicate preferences/make choices, Eye contact (if appropriate), Comfort with contributing to discussions within 1:1 or group setting, Extent that an individual’s affect is in alignment with verbal or behavioural responses, etc.

What interventions might a music therapist use to work toward this goal? Interventions might include group music therapy, sharing instruments, providing choice (e.g. option between two instruments or two songs) for individual to indicate preference, singing together (in 1:1 or group setting), validation and positive reinforcement of abilities, continuous intervention or musical transitions to eliminate distraction between interventions (if appropriate), and more.

If a client has a need to address a musical goal, a music therapist might be focusing on: Task attention/focus, Comprehension, Learning a new skill, Building confidence, Memory, Turn taking/following instructions, Creativity, etc.

What interventions might a music therapist use to work toward this goal? Interventions might include adapted music lessons, instrument playing, songwriting, singing together (in 1:1 or group setting), validation and positive reinforcement of abilities, melodic composition, and more.

One of the main goal areas targeted by Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) techniques is speech and language. Speech and language goals may include to improve muscular control of the speech and respiratory apparatus; to improve articulation; to improve initiation of speech sounds; to stimulate speech production; to improve pitch, inflection, breath control, or volume; and to improve speech intelligibility.

There are several NMT techniques to address these goal areas including Developmental Speech and Language Training through Music (DSLM), Melodic Intonation Therapy (MIT), Musical Speech Stimulation (MUSTIM), Oral Motor and Respiratory Exercises (OMREX), Rhythmic Speech Cueing (RSC), Symbolic Communication Training through Music (SYCOM), Therapeutic Singing (TS), Vocal Intonation Therapy (VIT), and more.

~ The Music Therapy Center (May 2015)

Each insurance provider has different policies. In many instances, psychotherapy and neurologic music therapy can be claimed. Check with your insurance provider to determine whether or not you have coverage for services.

The elements of music include sound (pitch, timbre, duration, etc.), rhythm, melody, tonality, harmony, expression (tempo, articulation, dynamics), and resonance (vibration, reverberation, vibrato, feedback, etc).

Humans are designed with similar systems of rhythm, harmony, expression, sound, tonality, and resonance. Think about your heartbeat, your pulse, your sleep cycles, your breath, the sound of your voice - it's pitch and inflection, your expression, your joy when a group of individuals find harmony or synchronicity. This makes music a useful tool to use as a form of therapy. Because of this:

• The use of singing and breath work can help to calm the sympathetic nervous system and emotionally regulate the body.

• Music is registered all over the brain and can therefore be used as an access point for rehabilitation when there is damage to one section of the brain.

• Rhythm can be used as an entrainment tool to help your brain and body calculate and anticipate movements necessary for daily activities including walking and navigating your environment.

• Of all 5 senses, hearing/sound is the very last to deteriorate in an ageing or palliative body.

• Music makes us happy! The "pleasure" hormones and neurotransmitters, dopamine and serotonin, are released when listening and engaging in musical activity.

...and more.