Music has been a widely recognized therapeutic method for many years.  Here are just a few of our stories.

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La visite des "Arcs-en-ciel"

The Paul Stobbs Fund keeps Friends making their music

Kevin and the Barrier of Anxiety
Noah has severe Aphasia
Brian demonstrated all the typical symptoms of autism...
Bliss has limited opportunities to socialize with other children...
La musicothérapie en soinspalliatifs

La visite des "Arcs-en-ciel"

Par Sylvie Boisvert

Sonia, une belle petite fille de quatre ans, participe à des séances en musicothérapie  une fois par semaine depuis environ cinq semaines quand sa maman mentionne qu’elle a parlé des bienfaits de la musicothérapie pour Sonia aux éducatrices de la garderie de sa fille. En effet,  Sonia frappe le tambour avec  cœur et joue des carillons tubulaires avec grand plaisir tout en écoutant les chansons de la musicothérapeute. Comme elle est atteinte du syndrome de Rett, Sonia  est limitée dans son exploration et ses interactions sociales; par contre, elle s’épanouit par la musique en vivant des expériences centrées sur ses capacités.

On convient donc d’inviter tout le groupe de Sonia à une séance où elle sera l’hôtesse.  Bientôt les petits « Arcs-en ciel », onze enfants âgés entre trois et quatre ans,  arrivent  au local de musicothérapie.  Sonia agit comme modèle et démontre à ses copains comment frapper le tambour, ou gratter de la guitare en ayant à ses côtés un enfant qui  joue de l’instrument avec elle. Un nouveau lien est établi entre Sonia et ses copains,  qui voient Sonia comme un leader ou une facilitatrice alors que bien souvent elle a besoin d’aide.  Chaque enfant a le sentiment d’être important à ses yeux, par le jeu partagée des divers  instruments. Toute la classe quitte avec regret à la fin de la séance. Mais plusieurs photos prises par la maman de Sonia seront un souvenir pour cette grande rencontre.

Quelques jours  après, les enfants ont envoyé des dessins à la musicothérapeute pour  la remercier de leur visite. Il est apparu plus particulièrement dans un des dessins, comment la musique avait joué un rôle rassembleur dans cette rencontre. Les carillons tubulaires bien placés au centre du dessin et les enfants qui gravitent  tout autour témoignent du vécu des enfants lors de leur visite.

La Fondation de musicothérapie du Canada a approuvé en 1998 un projet de musicothérapie dans la communauté, entre le centre de réadaptation et les garderies respectives des enfants.  Par  la musique, les tout-petits et leurs éducatrices ont exploré  la diversité qui crée  la richesse de leur communauté.  Les enfants, étant à la base de la communauté, porteront  en eux  cette expérience de vie. 

The Paul Stobbs Fund keeps Friends making their music

By Erin Gross

It’s Friday morning and the doorbell at the Music Therapy Centre begins to ring. Each time, a different Wheeltrans driver is at the door, accompanied by one of the six vibrant men and women who gather every Friday morning for music therapy. These are “The Friends of Music” and their enthusiasm is boundless. They arrive smiling and immediately begin to catch up with each other on the past week’s events. Soon after that, the music making begins.

The Friends of Music have been gathering at the Music Therapy Centre for over ten years. Some even participated in music therapy as young children under the guidance of music therapy pioneer and the Centre’s founder, Fran Herman.  Currently, the group consists of three women and three men, all of whom have a variety of physical issues as a result of cerebral palsy. In music therapy, each Friend of Music has the opportunity to discover and develop his/her own unique potentials rather than being defined by disability or limitations.  Participants are encouraged to express how they feel, through music and words, and they provide unfaltering support to each other during good and bad times.  The Friends of Music love to explore musical instruments, many of which have been adapted so that they are fully accessible. They have composed original songs, made recordings, and have accumulated a repertoire of memorized songs that constantly keeps the music therapist on her toes.  When describing what this group means to them, members state that this is their “home” and their “lifeline.” “We need it and we need each other.” 

The Friends of Music would not exist without the support of the Canadian Music Therapy Trust Fund in partnership with some very generous donors who have directed funds toward this group. The Paul Andrew Stobbs Fund was initiated by Paul’s mother Patricia, in loving memory of her son, who passed away in February 1999 at the age of 37. Paul was a young man with a developmental disability, who faced challenges, life, and all those he knew with an infectious enthusiasm. He demonstrated a particular sensitivity for persons with disabilities, especially in his job at the Hugh MacMillan Centre. His family and friends will always remember his laughter, his warm embrace, and his great love of music. Paul’s family felt that supporting the Friends of Music would be a perfect way in which to honour his memory.

The Friends of Music are incredibly grateful for all of the support that they receive. The opportunity to make music together and maintain close friendships is vital to their ongoing quality of life. Please contact the Music Therapy Centre if you would like to support “The Friends of Music.”

Kevin and the Barrier of Anxiety

By Fran Herman

Nine year old Kevin had very ambivalent feelings about returning home and was acting out a great deal in his last week at the Hugh MacMillan Medical Centre.

Those of us who work with children who have problems know that it is easier to observe the manifestations of upset behaviour than it is to understand why a child needs to act in the way he does. The inability or unwillingness of the child to tell us what he thinks or feels, shuts us out of his private world. He may feel that it is safer to keep his feelings and thoughts to himself. Moreover, his language skills may not have developed adequately to articulate his feelings, or his awareness of himself may be blocked.

Sometimes, by creating a different perspective of the problem (one that usually ends up in a lot of laughter), a child can be helped to see himself or his problem in a new light. In this improvisation, the therapist becomes the kid and he, in turn, becomes the doctor.

Child (improvised role played by therapist): “Oh heck, I don’t wanna go home.”

Dr (improvised role played by child): “You have to; we need the bed.”

Child: “But why can’t I stay for a bit longer? It’s safe here.”

Dr: “You’ve been here four months already. Do you want to stay here forever? You’ll get old and grey if you stay here.”

Child: “Yah, but if I go home, I’ve gotta go to a new school and I don’t know anybody there.”

Dr: “Well, you’ll just have to go and make the best of it.”

Child: “But it’s a lot safer here. Everybody knows me here. The teachers, the kids…”

Dr: “You’ve gotta go. Or else you’ll turn into an old lady here.”

Child: “Yes, well, the kids might make fun of me –‘cause I’ve got asthma.”

Dr: “Well, you just have to walk away and don’t let them bother you.” (He demonstrates by walking smartly with his nose up in the air.)

Child: “Well, maybe.”

Dr: “No maybe. You just gotta. After all, you have got rid of your asthma –maybe not all –and you gotta get better. So just ignore them, like this!” Turns to his music therapist and says, “Fran, play some ignoring music so we can all practice.”

The improvisation ends here with everyone trying out "ignoring” routines.

Kevin’s anxieties about being alone, ridiculed and away from his “safe place” accounted for his upset behaviour the previous week. In this spontaneous role- reversal, he was able to see what was bothering him. Music reinforced the “as-if” situation and allowed him to work off some of his upset feelings.

Such play performs a vital function for the child wherein the communication, verbal or otherwise, may open a way to his inner life. In getting the issues out in the open, we can create a catharsis for the child which provides a path for action and change. The material he shows us may contain some key answers to his emotional, social and physical problems, thus giving us the opportunity of helping him more effectively.

Noah

By Linda Dessau

Noah has severe Aphasia, and like most aphasics, he is unable to say the words that may be in his mind. In his first days at the centre, he was placed at a conversation table, but soon after, would wheel himself away from the table, turning his back to the other members. He often appeared bored and uninterested. He would not communicate even by writing, pointing, or gesturing as do some of the other members with severe aphasia. Noah continued to separate himself from the activities of the group.

One day, months later, the group members were singing songs, choosing their favourites from a song booklet. From the second word of the song “Home on the Range,” Noah joined in and continued to sing a few phrases in a loud, clear voice. He stopped with a large yawn, but his expression was cheerful and pleased for the remainder of the session. Noah transformed from a person who turned himself away from his fellow group members to a member who joined in, in full voice.

Brian

By Dr. Johanne Brodeur

At four, Brian demonstrated all the typical symptoms of autism. At his first music therapy session, Brian willingly entered the music room. He turned off the lights and began ritualistic rocking movements under a chair. His therapist went to the piano and began to mirror rhythmically and melodically his body movements. Copying his movements would not only make him aware of himself but would also tell him in a musical sense that his therapist wanted to understand him and to enter his world. Brian never stopped rocking that first session. 

For the first few sessions there was little change... then, one day Brian came closer and reached out and touched his therapist’s hand, saying in his monotone voice, “We don’t want anyone to see us.” From then on, Brian and the therapist explored the music room together.

In one session, they looked at a celestial map while listening to Holst’s “The Planets”. Another day, they played instruments sitting under a blanket. Later, the therapist developed a game improvising music to letters of the alphabet and adjectives (A is for angry, etc.).

Brian’s parents eventually bought him a small electric piano that he slept with, as if it were a teddy bear. When he had bad dreams, his parents would hear the piano playing quietly in the night.

With time, Brian began to verbally express feelings, thoughts, and concerns. He graduated from elementary school reading, writing, and most importantly, having made one friend. Music not only gave Brian the bridge to communication, but also the strength to take on challenges and try novel experiences.

Bliss

By Jennifer Buchanan
From JB Music

Bliss is a four year old girl who lives with her grandmother. Bliss has limited opportunities to socialize with other children due to her grandmother's tight budget while in retirement, and Bliss' high needs of care.  During summer camp, Bliss worked collaboratively with 5 other children, making, creating , and expressing herself through music. While Bliss was in camp her grandmother was able to take a well earned break knowing that Bliss was being well cared for while learning new skills and having a great time.

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La musicothérapie en soins palliatifs

Par Deborah Salmon
De La Scena Musicale

Je rends visite pour la première fois à une vieille dame alitée. Nous parlons de l'importance de la musique dans sa vie et de ce qui lui procure du sens et du plaisir. Elle parle de sa jeunesse en Hongrie. Elle aimait tellement danser à l'époque ! Bientôt, nous cherchons à ranimer ces bons souvenirs. Elle choisit certaines pièces favorites de musique hongroise d'une collection de musique folklorique et bat le rythme sur un tambourin alors que je joue les mélodies à la flûte. Son mari arrive et commence à danser les danses traditionnelles de leur jeunesse. Tous deux se rappellent leurs belles années, les yeux brillants, leur amour est palpable dans leurs regards.

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