March 1st is World Music Therapy Day, a day to recognize and celebrate the healing power of music in healthcare around the world.
The duo from Thick as Thieves Entertainment, Mitch Carefoot and Kurt Jory, the ones who brought music festivals like Denim on the Diamond and AltiTunes to Kelowna; are announcing the launch of a brand new music therapy program at Kelowna General Hospital in partnership with Music Heals.
Since 2012, Music Heals has raised awareness and funds to increase access to music therapy services in communities across the country for vulnerable Canadians.
“Music therapy is used for memory and recall for seniors who have dementia and Alzheimers, we’ve seen is by the second verse and chorus they’re singing along and they're so very present,” explains Taryn Stephenson, Music Heals.
“It can be used for pain management, and it can be used as a communication tool which is actually quite special when sometimes words are too hard to find it’s easier to write a song and sing about it.”
This year, with the support of Thick as Thieves, Kelowna Toyota and an anonymous KGH Foundation donor, patients in the McNair Unit (Psychiatry) at KGH will be introduced to the pilot music therapy program, Soul Sounds Music Therapy.
This is set to be the first-ever music therapy program at the hospital and local music therapists Kayla Turnbull and Lizzy Walsh are excited to offer this new form of support in the coming weeks.
Soul Sounds Music Therapy will use the clinical use of music to help an individual achieve therapeutic goals. In psychiatric care, these goals could include: exploring self-expression safely, decreasing isolation and loneliness, increasing relaxation and inner strength, and addressing feelings of anxiety, stress, and/or fear.
“I am excited to build trust and relationships through music to facilitate self-expression and social connection with folks seeking wellness support,” says Turnbull of their program’s person-centred approach that meets people where they are at. “I recognize how challenging hospitalization can be, and I hope that this pilot project can support those in such a vulnerable time.”
Mitch and Kurt have supported Music Heals over the past five years, and this new program is just one of the ways they plan to give back to Kelowna and help encourage healing through music.
“This is just the start of this for us,” explains Jury.
“Finding new opportunities to implement these programs, raising funds and getting people together for music is kinda what it’s all about.”
While the Soul Sounds Music Therapy pilot program will begin sessions later this year, Thick as Thieves Entertainment will be spreading the power of music in its own way on April 2 at the AltiTunes music festival at Big White Ski Resort.
Not only will artists like Arkells, Lights and Daysormay take the stage, but Mitch and Kurt are planning to raise another $10,000 for Soul Sounds Music Therapy on the day of the event.
“By the end of the day we hope to raise $10,000 or more, and anyone who comes to our events, sponsors or ticket buyers, they’re supporting this initiative through their own ways,” said Carefoot.
“Any of the money that is donated, stays directly here in Kelowna. That’s really important to us for our initiative because we want the money to benefit the people in this region.”
To Turn Up for Music Heals and make a donation to support music therapy in Kelowna, click here.
Learn more about Soul Sounds Music Therapy here.
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