BRINGING MUSIC TO LIFE

My Pop Choir singers know that music makes us feel amazing - mentally, emotionally and physically. And study after study has confirmed this. Recently, we decided to explore beyond our choirs to find other instances where music is healing and lifting spirits, and even changing lives.

Meet the dedicated people we discovered, who are reaching out musically to engage with the many people whose lives they brighten.

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

“The power of music is just so strong,” says Erin Gross, professional practice and education leader at Sunnybrook. “In terms of forming a relationship and supporting patients, you skip ahead when you introduce music because you form that connection and open up to emotions a little bit quicker.”

Music therapy began with the Veterans Centre at Sunnybrook and has expanded considerably in the last five years., according to Erin. There are now nine certified music therapists, who are a part of the largest creative arts therapy hospital team in Canada. They are all also registered psychotherapists.

Among the areas where the music therapists work, in addition to the veterans centre, are palliative care, the anxiety disorders clinic, the neonatal intensive care unit, the inpatient psychiatric program, and the reactivation care site (for patients awaiting return home or to long term care).

“Music is therapeutic in many different ways,” says Erin. “For instance, it gives veterans opportunities to socialize, and to work on cognition.  It offers them self-expression and a sense of community.”

They may not recognize family members, but they will remember every word of a song. “It’s nice to offer music to families who are looking for a way to connect – they can sing songs that are familiar to their parent or loved one,” Erin says.

Sunnybrook’s Veterans Choir, which performs two or three times a year, consists of eight or nine singers, ranging in age from the early 90s to a 104-year-old woman, who sang a solo at their most recent concert.

The music empowers them, Erin says. “They are significantly limited in what they can do for themselves physically, but through their music they are recognized for how much they still have to offer.”

The youngest patients at Sunnybrook feel the benefit of music as well. When the music therapists work in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, their goal is to calm and soothe in a very stimulating environment where there are monitors, with all sorts of sounds that are overstimulating to a baby. And studies have shown that music also encourages the sucking reflex to help with feeding, according to Erin.

In the Palliative Care unit, music therapists not only offer music to individual patients as part of their daily routine, but they also do legacy work, helping to plan music for memorial services or assisting with the choice of music for people who are having MAID.

In the midst of all the activity within this large medical complex, music runs like a current of peace and warmth.

Joseph Brant Wellness House

Burlington’s Wellness House, associated with Joseph Brant Hospital, offers a day program for clients over 18, according to Recreation Therapist, Lynda Stevens.’

“Clients do not need to have a diagnosis,” she explains, “and they can self-refer.  There are people who are just lonely, but we also see a have wide variety of diagnoses from dementia and Alzheimer’s to Parkinson’s, MS, strokes - just about anything.”

Music plays a significant role in the activities at Wellness House. “It brings back memories, reminds people of good times and overall improves their mood,” Lynda says. “We use it during exercise, we have drumming circles, and we often have musical guests.”

The Root Beer Factory is a family trio who take their humour and ukeleles regularly to Wellness House. Lauraine, Paul and daughter Rachel Woods formed their group in 2021 (and they are all My Pop Choir singers).

“Our goal is to help people forget where they are and feel good for an hour,” says Lauraine. “We try to really reach the people. I’m forever scanning the group and trying to make eye contact.”

She says that their clients will start to tap their feet or clap or mouth the words,” as the trio plays a wide variety of songs that reflect the very different tastes of the three singers.

“We each bring a different perspective when it comes to creating our set list,” explains Rachel. “My mom likes exploring local artists she hears on CBC radio. My dad has always been a huge consumer of music across many genres - punk, Motown, oldies, classic country. I’m definitely into pop and show tunes and what’s already on my own playlists.”

Whatever their choices, their Wellness House audience always looks forward to their performances.

“The Root Beer Factory is so interactive with our clients,” says Lynda. “It’s so joyful when they are performing and the clients get so much out of that. They do a wonderful job.”

“We treat them as adults and our contemporaries,” says Lauraine, explaining their approach. “And we make fun of ourselves!”

The trio understands the power of music. “I am looking to connect, for them to look me in the eye,” Lauraine says. “When our eyes meet and we are singing together – that’s magic.”

And the joy reflected on the faces of their audience as they respond casts its own spell.

Toronto Public Libraries – Lillian H. Smith and Sanderson Branches

For the past two years, Certified Music Therapist Joanne Tseng has been bringing music weekly to two Toronto Public Library branches. This music program is part of the F.R.E.S.H. partnership between the Gerstein Centre and the Toronto Public Libraries (https://gersteincentre.org/our-crisis-services/toronto-public-library-project/.

“The population we serve are primarily people who struggle with mental health or housing insecurity,” Joanne explains. “Our goal is to build a community that is a safe place for them to come every week and express themselves in music. They may share their favourites, talk about why it’s their favourite, and why they want to share with others.  And it may be related to the things that are going on in their life at the time.”

The age of the participants ranges from the twenties to as old as 96. Some live in shelters; some are accustomed to coming by the library regularly.  “Some of the older population especially don’t have a formal music education and they feel they have missed out. They find it’s an awakening.,” says Joanne.

She finds that participants are very attentive when it comes to learning about music theory. “I am so surprised that they are willing to listen to my music ‘lectures.’ I think that it’s therapeutic for them because they are picking up things they never had a chance to access, including, in some cases, playing instruments.”

While some participants struggle with conditions such as depression or memory loss, the goal of these library programs is to concentrate on the music, according to Joanne.  “The focus is on the having fun process.”

While they may be coming just once a week, or even occasionally, Joanne sees friendships being formed. “They wonder aloud why someone hasn’t shown up, they talk to each other about their health and wellbeing, and they sometimes share pictures and stories about their families.”  And all of this communication started with their shared participation in music.

“My job is to ease them into their environment, to make them feel safe so they can say the things they want to say,” Joanne comments. And she does this with the help of instruments such as ukelele, tambourine, xylophone, guitar, keyboard, tone chimes, and finger cymbals.

Libraries are, of course, open to all, as are the music programs that Joanne Tseng leads.

“Whoever walks by and decides to come in, they are welcome,” she says. “I am so happy that people want to come back. And they are being uplifted every single week.”

If you, or anyone you know, would like to connect with a certified music therapist, you can contact the Canadian Association of Music Therapists (CAMT) at www.musictherapy.ca.