The Canadian Music Therapy Podcast

 What happens when you combine someone with a career as a music therapist & psychotherapist with someone who is an entrepreneur, TV host and all-around curious person? Welcome to the Canadian Music Therapy Podcast! In this episode, Adrienne speaks about her roots in music therapy and how her passion for work in hospice & community singing has shaped her career. Cathy shares with listeners about her early sales career when she was 4 years old and her background in business development & mental health.

 In this inaugural episode of the podcast, Adrienne and Cathy speak with Dr. Sandi Curtis from Montreal Quebec as she shares her wealth of knowledge about feminist music therapy. Dr. Curtis shares her mission about why she wrote her book entitled “Music for Women (Survivors of Violence): A feminist music therapy interactive e-book” along with her approach to feminist music therapy. Sandi shares how music therapy is a powerful tool for women and girls who survive violence.

 From Canada’s eastern most city on the North Atlantic we are featuring the work of Susan LeMessurier Quinn at the Janeway Children’s Hospital, Eastern Health, in St. John’s Newfoundland. We will connect with Susan to learn more about the versatility of music therapy and stories from both inpatient and outpatient settings with children and youth. Susan shares her experience with a young patient in the NICU and how music therapy had a profound impact on the infant's health and well-being. She also highlights the ways that Telehealth is providing essential health care and mental health support to children and youth in report communities as far away as Labrador. 

Noreen Donnell is a Certified Music Therapist and Registered Psychotherapist with over 30 years of clinical experience. She graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with the first Undergraduate (1988) and Graduate (2003) Music Therapy classes and has dedicated her entire career to the field. Her most recent success is the creation of the Commusicate program which is being used by music therapist’s internationally! Noreen candidly tells us about her personal journey becoming a certified music therapist. The poignant stories she shares about three unique clients and how music made a pivotal difference in their lives will connect you to why music therapy is a powerful modality for growth and healing. 

 Jennifer’s company JB Music Therapy has been instrumental in the implementation of hundreds of music therapy programs throughout Canada for almost 30 years and has been thrice nominated for the Community Impact Award by the Chamber of Commerce.  Jennifer is the recipient of the two most prestigious Canadian music therapy lifetime service awards: the Franni Award and the Norma Sharpe Award.

She is the Executive Director for the Canadian Association of Music Therapists and has been an invited keynote speaker at national and international conventions speaking on music therapy and health entrepreneurship to a wide variety of education, healthcare, government, small business, and corporate audiences.

As an author of two award-winning books – ‘Tune In‘ and ‘Wellness Incorporated‘ she has appeared as a guest on numerous news and current affairs programs including Fox News Health, NBC, CBS, CTV, Global TV, CBC Radio and Television and has been featured in publications such as The Guardian, The Huffington Post, and Canadian Living.

In addition to her Music Therapy education, Jennifer has her Executive MBA specializing in social entrepreneurship from the University of Fredericton. 

Elizabeth Eldridge is a Certified Music Therapist, Psychological Healthy & Safety Consultant and serial entrepreneur. Following her music therapy degree at Acadia University she completed her clinical internship in Mental Health Recovery Services in Hamilton, Ontario, which ignited her passion for mental health. In her role as an intern she gained invaluable experience working on an interdisciplinary team supporting clients living with various psychiatric illnesses. She returned home to southern New Brunswick in 2008 and established Arpeggio Music Therapy, which has expanded to include internship and subcontracting positions.
 

In 2012, after identifying the need for mental health education for laypersons, Elizabeth founded Arpeggio Health Services whose ever-growing team now provides training opportunities like Mental Health First Aid Canada-wide. Taking on additional education related to mental health herself, Elizabeth launched a consulting practice and now works as an advisor to companies that are adopting best practices around psychological health and safety management, striving to optimize workplace mental health to boost productivity, decrease absenteeism and improve employee engagement, retention and workplace culture.
 

Elizabeth has served in various board and committee roles over the years in support of the growth of music therapy as a profession, including a term as president of the Canadian Association of Music Therapists.

Susan Summers, PhD, MTA is a certified music therapist and vocal psychotherapist who has been passionate about her work with older adults and those at end-of-life care for over three decades. She teaches in the music therapy department at Capilano University, serves on several professional association boards, and is in private practice. Her graduate work research focused on the healing and therapeutic use of voice. She has been a member of the UBC research team for ten years with an interest in music therapy clinical practice with seniors with dementia. She brings her passion for advocacy for music therapy to her current roles as MTABC and CAMT Advocacy and Government regulations chair.

 Kiki Chang is the current President of the Canadian Association of Music Therapists.  She has been a Certified Music Therapist (MTA) since 2009, primarily working in hospital and long-term care settings with older adults.  Kiki has completed graduate-level training in both music therapy and counselling and psychotherapy, and is currently a PhD candidate specializing in health policy and equity.  Her doctoral research focuses on the government regulation of health care professions from a health equity perspective and its impacts on music therapy in Canada. 

Joel Klassen is a Certified Music Therapist (MTA) living and working in rural Southern Manitoba. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music), and a Postgraduate Diploma in Music Therapy (Nordoff-Robbins) from the University of Edinburgh. For the past 15 years he has been a full-time music therapist for Eden Health Care Services, serving a mental health hospital and numerous long term care homes. Trained in cello, piano, guitar and voice, his clinical work focuses on dementia care and the enabling of recovery from mental illness.
Joel serves as a practicum supervisor and lecturer for CMU in Winnipeg, and is currently vice president on the board of the Canadian Association of Music Therapists.

Chrissy received her Honours Bachelor of Music Therapy from the University of Windsor in 2002. She completed her internship at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Aging and Veterans Care. She is a certified music therapist (MTA), a member of the College of Registered Psychotherapists (RP) and a Fellow of the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music (FAMI). She has worked with people of all ages facing a diverse range of challenges in settings such as community mental health, schools, long term care, hospitals and in private practice. Currently, Chrissy works in Toronto at Baycrest Centre in palliative care and inpatient psychiatry, she is the and in April of this year she became the Executive Director of the Canadian Music Therapy Fund. Chrissy is an active supervisor and has received teaching and supervision awards from both Sunnybrook and Baycrest.
Over the years, Chrissy has served on various committees for the Canadian Association of Music Therapists and, during her time in Winnipeg, spent a term as President of the Music Therapy Association of Manitoba. Advocating for music therapy and providing presentations and consultations about the benefits of music therapy is an important part of her wo

On this episode, Dr. Kevin Kirkland delves into the current research that is happening in BC in the field of music therapy along with his mission to shed a light on supporting individuals who have had adverse childhood experiences. 

A little more about Dr. Kevin Kirkland:

 Dr. Kevin Kirkland is an instructor in the Bachelor of Music Therapy program at Capilano University in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and music therapist at the Burnaby Centre for Mental & Addiction. He has been a music therapist for over 30 years. His previous research was in areas of dementia care and music therapy. For the past decade his current focus is primarily on the intersections of trauma, adverse childhood experiences, and music therapy.

 

On this episode, Dr. SarahRose Black speaks with us about the variety of roles she has in the field of music therapy. From her research exploring music therapy in the context of assisted dying, to her role as the editor in chief of the Canadian Journal of Music therapy, to her work in the field of oncology and palliative care. SarahRose is passionate about music and health and that comes through on today’s show.

A little more about Dr. SarahRose Black:
Dr. SarahRose Black is a certified music therapist and registered psychotherapist, specializing in palliative care and psychosocial oncology at both the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and Kensington Hospice in Toronto. In addition, she promotes music and health with Pulse Music Media.

Read more about Dr. SarahRose Black here: https://beyondthestudio.ca/podcast 

Connect with SarahRose on social media:
Twitter: @sarahroseblack
 

PULSE:
YouTube: www.youtube.com/pulsemusicmedia
Instagram: @pulsemusicmedia

On this episode, we speak with Paul Lauzon, founding Professor of the Acadia University Music Therapy Program. As a clinician, he has worked with clients throughout the life cycle, from prenatal to palliative care. As a teacher and scholar, he has an abiding interest in understanding why music is effective as therapy. During this show, he challenges our beliefs in life and in therapy.

A little more about Paul:

Paul Lauzon is a Certified Music Therapist with 36 years of experience – he is a past President of Canadian Association of Music Therapists (CAMT), and the founding President of the Atlantic Association for Music Therapy (AAMT), he is committed to the growth of Music Therapy in the Atlantic region. 

On this episode, Elizabeth talks with us about her lived experience as a music therapist, her vision for the future of music therapy and important lessons learned on her journey. Liz shares poignant experiences about working in residential mental health care and the impact music can make on the way people perceive clients. Her passion is making music accessible because she believes that “access to music is a human right.”

A little more about Dr. Elizabeth Mitchell:

Dr. Elizabeth Mitchell is a registered psychotherapist, certified music therapist, and assistant professor at Wilfrid Laurier University where she coordinates the Bachelor of Music Therapy program. Liz has extensive experience bringing music-centered music therapy practices to mental health treatment settings with individuals of all ages and is curious about the connections between music therapy and other musical-relational practices. Laurier’s Faculty of Music has appointed Dr. Elizabeth Mitchell to a tenure-track appointment as Assistant Professor in Music Therapy effective July 1, 202

 On this podcast we are changing things up! Cathy interviews Dr. Laurel Young along with podcast co-host and business partner, Adrienne Pringle.

This episode focuses on bridging gaps between music therapy research and practice, focusing specifically, on a project that Laurel and Adrienne collaborated on together, entitled Lived Experiences of Singing in a Community Hospice Bereavement Support Group.

  A little more about Dr. Young and Adrienne Pringle:
Dr. Laurel Young is a certified music therapist and psychotherapist with over 25 years of diverse clinical experience, authored several publications, presented internationally, and served on the CAMT and Canadian Music Therapy Fund Boards. She is an Associate professor of music therapy at Concorida University and is a research member of Concordia’s PERFORM Centre, Concordia’s Arts in Health Research Collective (AHRC), and the Centre for Research and Expertise in Social Gerontology (CREGÉS) and currently serves as the Associate Director of engAGE: Concordia’s Centre for Research on Aging.

Adrienne Pringle is the Director of Beyond the Studio and Co-Founder of the Sing it Girls! Program, along with the Co-host of the Canadian Music Therapy Podcast. She is a Registered Psychotherapist and Certified Music Therapist (MTA) with over 20 years of experience working as a therapist, educator, lecturer, researcher, clinical supervisor, and performer.

 On this podcast, our guest Cynthia Bruce speaks to us about her current work which aims to bring Critical Disability Studies and disability rights to the centre of intersectional social justice work in music therapy. Cynthia’s teaching and research activities amplify the under-represented voices of disabled scholars and practitioners and position the lived experience of disability as a vital source of knowledge. 

A little more about Cynthia Bruce
Cynthia Bruce is a blind activist educator, researcher, and Certified Music Therapist (MTA). Her work sits at the nexus of music therapy, critical disability studies, and accessibility in post-secondary education. 

On this episode, our guest Dr. Amy Clements-Cortes shares with listeners about her research and clinical work which has had a global impact in advancing the discipline of music therapy. She also delves into relationship completion in palliative care music therapy along with her vision for the future of music therapy.

A little more about Dr. Amy:
Amy Clements-Cortes, PhD, RP, MTA, MT-BC is Assistant Professor, Faculty of Music, University of Toronto; Instructor and Supervisor, Wilfrid Laurier University; and Academic Coordinator & Instructor, Interdisciplinary Studies, Ryerson Chang School. She is a credentialed Music Therapist, Registered Psychotherapist and Fellow in the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music, as well as in Neurologic Music Therapy. Her research contributions have had a significant impact in the understanding of understudied phenomenon, resulting in excelled treatments and services. Amy is Research and Ethics Chair of the World Federation of Music Therapy (WFMT), and Managing Editor of the Music and Medicine journal.

On this episode we are privileged to welcome 2 guests, Michelle and Lee-Ann, who are both assistant professors of Music Therapy from Canadian Mennonite University. They speak about the CMU music therapy program, how their unique perspectives influence the work they do, and the practicum experiences of students. 

Here is a little more about Michelle: Michelle Yaciuk, is a professor of music therapy at CMU and owns Prelude Music a music therapy and education business in Winnipeg, MB. Her passions include teaching music therapy students, early childhood development and all things business.

Here is more information about Lee-Anne: Lee-Anne Dowsett is a music therapist and clinical counsellor specializing in attachment-focused work with children and families. She is also an Assistant Professor at Canadian Mennonite University in Winnipeg.

On this show Esther shares with us about the curriculum for Meet In The Music©- music therapy curriculum for children with autism & diverse needs. She covers examples of program content, data collection, documentation and clinical report generation using the curriculum. 

A little more about Esther Thane
Esther has specialized in the field of Autism and special needs since 1996. After over a decade on faculty at Capilano University, teaching in the Bachelor of Music Therapy Program, Esther continues to enjoy presenting at conferences, writing book reviews for published journals and holding workshops for universities, local agencies as well as internationally. In 2014, Esther completed Dr. Diane Austin's (Music Psychotherapy Center, NY) first international distance training program in Advanced Vocal Psychotherapy. Her publication in the book: Voicework in Music Therapy (Jessica Kingsley Publishers), focuses on her innovative method of Vocal-Led Relaxation for Children with Autism. Esther created Meet In The Music© (MITM) music therapy curriculum for children with autism, which is utilized by music therapists throughout the United States, Canada and Australia. Esther is Executive Director of ET Music Therapy in Vancouver, British Columbia, where the team serve over 120 families with both in person and telehealth. ET Music Therapy is situated in two studio locations as well as in schools, implementing the MITM curriculum. In 2017, Esther received the “Iconic Women Creating a Better World For All” award, presented by the Women Economic Forum in New Delhi, India. Recently, Esther received the Canadian Association of Music Therapists (CAMT) PEER RECOGNITION AWARD for innovation and advocacy.

This episode is a little different! We have two guests joining us, Mary Meads and Tess McKinnon. Mary is a licence owner for the evidence-based, Canadian program called Sing it Girls and Tess has been a participant of the Sing it Girls program at 4 different times over the past year. They talk about their experiences both facilitating the program and from a participant’s perspective. 

A little more about Tess McKinnon:

Tess is 11 years old and lives in Waterloo Ontario with her family and 2 guinea pigs, Sherlock & Watson. She loves performing, including dance, drama and singing. Her favorite subject is science, and she likes to play badminton. When she’s bored, she likes to read, hangout with her friends, do crafts, and play with her guinea pigs.

A little more about Mary Meads:

Mary Meads (she/her) is a Credentialed Music Therapist and owner of Wellington Music Therapy Services. A graduate of the Concordia Creative Arts Therapies Masters, Music Therapy option, Mary returned home to Guelph, Ontario to set up her practice with hopes of extending the powerful reaches of music therapy deep into Guelph and the surrounding areas. She loves connecting with community partners and families, developing new programs, advocating for the profession, and engaging with her team of 8 MTAs to offer high quality and exciting music therapy & Community music programs. Mary’s current clinical work focuses on Older Adults Living in Long-Term Care settings, early intervention / early childhood music education, and using the singing voice to enhance wellbeing. Mary also holds a part time position at St. Joseph's Health Care Centre in Guelph, where she supports those living in Long Term Care. Next steps for Mary include engaging more deeply in Anti Oppressive Practice, and leaning into a broader application of music and health on a community level