CANUCK PLACE (Vancouver, B.C.).
For children in terminal stages of cancer, AIDS, muscular dystrophy, MT provides comfort when they are faced with invasive procedures, balm for their loneliness and insecurity, distraction for their pain. Bereavement support is also provided to young people and their families.

AIM PAIN MANAGEMENT Clinic (Toronto)
For the person with chronic pain, possible treatments are limited by the client’s extreme sensitivity. One solution can be provided by sound. In Vibro Acoustic MT the person lies on a massage bed and gradually with music in the background, the therapist introduces very low frequencies below 2000Hz through a tone generator, amplifier, subwoofer system. These vibrations pass through the special bed providing welcome relief through this curative sonic massage.

MARYVALE ADOLESCENT AND FAMILY SERVICES (Windsor)
Maryvale serves extremely disturbed, acting out, and anti-social youth, as well as those who are suicidal. These young people are often too mistrustful and insecure to allow rapport to develop. Support was given for a demonstration project to explore the use of music to provide release from tension and to identify and express feelings to improve communication skills.

G.F. STRONG REHAB CENTRE (Vancouver)
Funding was given to provide instruments for a music therapy program, for persons who have experienced a traumatic brain injury, stroke, or other neurological conditions.

CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
This pediatric hospital serves children and adolescents in Manitoba, Northwest Territories, and northwestern Ontario. MT supports these children who are in pain, depressed,  isolated and lonely because they receive few visitors. Therapy is also provided for the cancer clinic, the bone-marrow transplant unit, and long-term critical care.

DOCTOR PETER CENTRE (Vancouver, B.C.)
This day centre and hospice serves adults living with HIV/AIDS who have multiple psycho/social medical needs. Since many were formally musicians, funding for an amplifier and contemporary instruments provides participants with possibilities for jamming, creating bands, and activities relevant to musical cooperation.

COOL MOVES (Regina, SK)
This research was done for severely disabled youth and adults. The project enabled them to access and control a variety of instrumental sounds by their physical movements  picked up by electronic devices. This piece of research will be of tremendous importance for disabled youth and adults, both here and abroad.

CENTRE MACKAY (Montreal)**
This centre provides rehabilitation for very young children who are severely disabled, deaf, or hard of hearing. This funding enabled an out-reach program to be initiated.

BURNS AND PLASTIC SURGERY UNIT IN HEALTH SCIENCES CENTRE (Vancouver, B.C.)
MT is used to assist children and adults in acute burn care recovery. Sessions include music and imagery to decrease pain and anxiety. Rhythm was also used to promote turning  and movement which is very painful for those with serious burns.

AUBERGE TRANSITION (Montreal)
A shelter for abused women and their children benefits from a program using music therapy. Intervention includes vocal and instrumental improvisation, relaxation techniques,  and continuous discussions about coping strategies and defining oneself.

PAT ARATO APHASIA CENTRE (Toronto)
Implementation of programs for stroke survivors will focus on music and communication. Through the use of music as a non-threatening and non-verbal communication method, the social use of language can be explored.

VALLEY REGIONAL HOSPITAL (Kentville, NS)
Funding was approved for a pilot MT program in the intensive care unit. The music therapist will collect physiological data such as blood pressure levels, heart rate, and respiration rate to demonstrate the effectiveness of music therapy.

TILLICUM HAUS NATIVE FRIENDSHIP CENTRE (Nainaimo, B.C.)
This pilot program serves the needs of First Nations adults, traumatized in the residential schools from the 1930s until the 1970s, and their children. Music may begin the healing process for those who suffer post traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD), and those who have turned to alcohol and drug abuse.

CAMP MOOMBA (Vancouver, B.C.)
MOOMBA is an Australian aboriginal word that means “join together and have fun.” This camp is sponsored by the Western Canadian Pediatric Aid Society, and received funding from the Trust Fund for a music therapy program at their summer camp. 112 children with HIV/AIDS were given an opportunity to be part of a camp community based on equality, friendship, and understanding. Given the stigma and discrimination surrounding HIV/AIDS, such an opportunity is of vital importance. Children from hospitals in different parts of Canada were provided with transportation for this experience. This undertaking was covered by the west coast fundraisers. 

STORY OF JOHN (Vancouver,B.C.)
John was a Canadian drummer working in a band in Vegas. After a major car accident, he was sent back to Canada. He was immobile, and became a self-selected mute, using only “yes,” “no,” and “I’m cold” to communicate.

His  MT asked for a high hat for John, and built a support so his foot could play it with a drum brush. John got involved with the rhythm his friends were playing when visiting him,and began to beat it  out on the high hat.

Now, leg support is not needed, and John has returned to full communication.

CAMPHILL VETERAN’S MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (Dartmouth, NS)Permanent support from Veteran’s Affairs Canada provides music therapy services for veterans in hospitals across the country.  Many of the Veterans who participate may have a variety of physical, psychological and/or mental difficulties,  and the programs are designed around these problems as well as providing music they want to play.

MONTREAL CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL (Montreal)
Terminally ill children and their families benefit from music therapy services provided **

GIANT STEPS (Mississauga, ON)
This is a unique school therapy centre for children with autism and related disorders. MT enables children to participate, communicate, to focus, to relax, and to learn. It is their pathway to the world.

MUSIC THERAPY FOR ABUSED CHILDREN (Owen Sound, ON)Collaborate research with the children’s aid society of Owen Sound, offers a creative, supportive approach to children 6-12 who have been traumatized by physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, or who have witnessed violence in their families.

BC CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL (Vancounver, BC)**
This eating disorder program offers treatments to adolescents and young adults with severe eating problems.

GRAND VALLEY INSTITUTION FOR WOMEN (Kitchener ON)
This is a federal prison for women, which is attempting to evaluate MT as a possible method of treatment in the Canadian penal system. Some issues to be worked on are: anger management, relaxation training, emotional awareness and expression.

MUSIC THERAPY ASSISTED CHILDBIRTH (Brantford, ON)
Pain management during labour has long been a concern for prospective parents and the medical profession. Research has indicated that the use of music as a pain reliever during the birthing process may be a reliable alternative to the use of drugs. This was the first collaborative study in Canada where music therapists teamed with other heath care professionals to research the use of music as pain management.

I’M DANGEROUS WITH SOUND (Vancouver)
In Vancouver we can take a peek at a group of young people jamming on a variety of electronic and percussion instruments. They are preparing a show which involves writing a script, making sets, creating music to demonstrate that they can indeed concentrate and follow through on a project which they will present to the community.

They are part of a street kids program that has gone on for many years. These teens are entangled in a web of abuse, booze, sex, and drugs, and they struggle to find hope and make it from this dark world few of us will ever see or know. Music has helped to salvage some of them and to turn their lives around.

YUKON DEVELOPMENT CENTRE  (Whitehorse NWT)
To music at the Yukon Development Centre, very challenged preschoolers try to bring their hands together, wiggle their feet, touch parts of their bodies, and move in various ways to the music.  They may also try to sing songs or make different sounds when the music captures their attention.

REGINA OPEN DOOR SOCIETY INC. ( REGINA Sask)
Therapists  for Newcomers in Transition Project will explore the use of music  therapy to assist refugees in resettlement and mental health. Music is a way of life for people all over the world and will be used here to serve as a community building tool, as well as an expression tool in many cultures.

SUNSHINE COAST HOSPICE  (Sechelt, BC)
This hospice program is unique for terminally ill and grieving individuals in the community.  Funding will provide services for persons in their own homes, rather than in a facility.

AUBERGE AU FOYER (Montreal QUE.)
The Auberge au Foyer is an innovative community based environment devoted to integration toward the needs of the physically challenged.  It’s organization and philosophy are based on respect for autonomy and the role the arts can play in accomplishing this. MT fits into the dynamic approaches of this unique setting because it provides opportunity to be involved with others, to be creative, and to make decisions.