“We’ve done a lot of research on music because music touches on almost all of the most complex mental functions that we are capable of. If you look at the parts of the brain that are active when you have a musical pattern coming, many of the brain networks that are responsible for controlling movements are also active – even though there are no movements in that circumstance.  If you take Parkinson’s Disease patients who have a lot of trouble initiating movements and have a lot of trouble timing their movements and you give them a musical stimulus, suddenly this patient who was previously shuffling is now able to walk in a much better way.”

- Dr. Robert Zatorre, Neuro-scientist, Professor

Montreal Neurological Institute, McGIll University

People of all ages and abilities are helped through music therapy, including those with:

• addictions
• AIDS/HIV
• autism
• brain injuries
• chronic illness
• communication challenges
• dementia
• developmental disabilities
• issues related to abuse or trauma
• learning disabilities
• neurological impairments
• physical challenges
• sensory impairments
• symptoms of stress or depression
• terminal illness

Music therapists provide both individual and group services in a variety of settings:

• Psychiatric and medical hospitals
• Hospices and palliative care centres
• Rehabilitation centres
• Nursing homes
• Schools
• Community mental health centres
• Residential group homes
• Halfway houses
• Personal residences and homes
• Long term care facilities
• Correctional facilities
• Private practices