The power of music
Music therapist Candice Gardiner plays guitar and sings along with the Harmony in Action choir March 20, at their pasta dinner fundraiser. Gardiner works with Harmony’s clients eight to 10 hours a week. (Photo by Rick Dawes)
By Richard Dawes
It is with the help of the community that members of a local charity can participate in music therapy.
The staff and clients of Harmony in Action hosted a concert and pasta dinner to raise money for the program. The event was attended by over 120 people, some being members of the public and the rest consisting of family and support workers of Harmony’s clients. After a meal of pasta, salad and desserts, clients of Harmony in Action sang songs they have been practising.
Originally founded in 1981 as The Friendship Club, Harmony’s goal to enrich the lives of adults living with developmental or physical challenges by doing things in the community like going bowling, watching the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, visiting the Art Gallery of Windsor and taking overnight trips out of town. Executive director Elizabeth Esposito said music therapy helps build clients’ self-esteem, including clients who would rarely talk in public before. Now they’re willing to sing in front of complete strangers.
“We had a music room developed when we moved into this building and our participants love it,” said Esposito. “So we did some research and found Candice who was a certified music therapist and we invited her to come on board with us.”
The University of Windsor offers a music therapy program and states on their website, “Music Therapy is an established healthcare profession that uses music to address physical, emotional, cognitive, social and spiritual needs of individuals of all ages.”
It also lists those with developmental and learning disabilities as individuals who could benefit from music therapy, along with cancer patients and those in end of life care to name a few.
Harmony’s music therapist is Candice Gardiner and she spends eight to ten hours a week with the clients.
“Music therapy is not always the first choice but it can really bring out a lot emotion and things in people you wouldn’t expect,” Gardiner said. “One particular song can affect one person one way and affect another person in another way.”
Tina and Anne attend Harmony and both women said they enjoy music therapy. Tina’s favourite song to sing is “Mississippi Girl” and Anne’s favourite is “Kumbaya.”
Harmony holds similar fundraisers to keep programs like music therapy accessible to clients.
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