The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Handbells
Marni Brechin, MTA
This interactive presentation is designed to give Music Therapists some creative ideas for their ‘handbell toolbox’ based on 30 years of planning and implementing handbell practice and performance. We will talk about guiding principles of running a group, how to maximize bell participation with clients and residents, as well as trying out various creative approaches to running a group. There is a limit of 15 participants in this session so that participants can have maximum opportunity to try out the demonstrated methods.
Marni Brechin is an accredited Music Therapist. She owns “Sound Source Music Therapy Services” as well as working for the Fraser Health Authority in the NetCARE Day Program for Older Adults. Marni strives to be innovative, and creative her work with the older adult population. She endeavors to offer relevant programs. She loves seeing the results of the power of music and sharing in the journey with people she serves.
Songs! Expand Your Repertoire and Clinical Creativity in Early Childhood Music Therapy
Katherine Deane, BMT, MTA NICU-MT
Participants in this session will learn original songs and chants that are designed to be easily learned by adults and loved by children. Participants will also review songs available in the public domain and explore new ways to present them. This is a hands on opportunity to experience activities during the session keeping common music therapy treatment goals in mind and addressing developmental domains for early childhood. Particular attention will be paid to cognitive, physical, language, and social-emotional development as well as children’s sensory systems (proprioceptive and vestibular). Findings from recent music therapy literature will be woven through the presentation to provide context and evidence for the interventions offered. The use of instruments and movement props will provide additional, multisensory avenues for music therapists to address therapeutic goals while maintaining a high level of musicality and fun. The presenter will guide the exploration for each of the songs and will model appropriate ways to implement them in the individual therapy setting, group family experience, and preschool inclusion class. Participants will engage in large and small group music experiences. Learning will be assessed through small and large group participant discussion of presented concepts, video discussion, and collaborative intervention design for early childhood music therapy groups.
Katherine Deane, BMT, MTA NICU-MT is an accredited Music Therapist and owner of 2Play Music Therapy where she has led groups and private music therapy sessions for preschoolers, children, and teens with developmental disabilities, speech delays, and learning differences. She has also worked with Note by Note Music Therapy mounting three community musical theatre productions at Semiahmoo House Society for actors with cognitive differences. In 2017, she completed her NICU Music Therapy training through the National Institute for Infant and Child Medical Music Therapy and she also owns West Side Music Together, Vancouver’s largest music and movement program for children newborn through kindergarten, which is celebrating its 15th year in 2019! Katherine has been the President of the Music Therapy Association of BC since the spring of 2017 and is happy to be a part of this amazing community of music therapists!
www.WestSideMusicTogerther.ca
Responding to Change: Music Therapy Perspectives on Navigating Assisted Suicide
Kristen Morrow, MTA
Meaghan Jackson, MTA
With the passing of Bill C-14, Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) became a legal reality in Canada. This presentation will explore multiple perspectives in responding to this new and controversial aspect of the healthcare system. Presenters include music therapists working in the field of palliative care: Meaghan Jackson, who will share from her personal experiences of using music therapy during a MAiD procedure, and Kristen Morrow, a conscientious objector, who will explore our ethical duty as therapists to consider all implications when navigating uncharted territory.
Kristen Morrow, MTA is an accredited Music Therapist working in hospicepalliative care and bereavement support with adults, children, and youth. Her experience also includes working with the elderly in long term care facilities throughout the greater Vancouver area. Work in the music therapy field has continued to surprise, humble, and inspire her, and she is ever grateful for the beautiful clients she encounters, as well as our amazing community of music therapists. Kristen has been involved in the MTABC conference over the last three years as conference chair, and is looking forward to becoming involved in this amazing event from an entirely different angle!
Meaghan’s work as a music therapist at Lions Gate Hospital, North Shore Hospice, and Camp Kerry focuses on end-of-life-care and bereavement. In her ‘spare time’ she homeschools a neurologically diverse nine year old and is fascinated by the brain and all the things that affect its functioning.
Pride in Your Work: Showcasing Music Therapy by Writing Well
Michele Satanove, BMus, MTA
In this age of digital media and online access to scholarly journals, excellent writing is vital for moving the profession of music therapy forward. How do you engage your readers and communicate effectively? What are some of the mistakes that could reduce your credibility? What’s APA got to do with it, anyway? This session is for clinicians, researchers, and students who want to attract readers by writing accessible and polished text that presents music therapy at a highly professional level.
Michele Satanove, MTA, is a Capilano College music therapy grad (1990) now working as a freelance editor. She began editing for the CAMT in 2009 as managing editor of Ensemble and moved on to copy edit the Canadian Journal of Music Therapy from 2011 to 2018. A teacher at heart, Michele wants to work more directly with writers rather than just exchanging scary looking documents full of tracked changes.
Music Improvisation for Health and Wellbeing: Interdisciplinary Perspectives and Implications for Contemporary Music Therapy Practice
Deborah Seabrook, MMT MTA PhD Candidate
Odeya Nini, MFA
Music making for health and wellbeing is increasingly an interdisciplinary domain in Canada, and is vital for music therapists to understand and situate our work within this professional landscape. Music therapist and improvising musician Deborah Seabrook and improvising musician, sound healer and educator Odeya Nini discuss what makes their disciplines distinct, what they share, and the future of music improvisation for health and wellbeing practices. Attendees are invited to re-conceptualize their work in this presentation that interweaves music, academic theory and personal experiences.
Deborah Seabrook is a music therapy clinician, researcher and educator, and an improvising pianist. Deborah specializes in music-centered and person-centered music therapy and hastaught music therapy at McGill, Concordia and Wilfrid Laurier Universities. As a pianist, Deborah performs conceptual compositions and improvisation. Currently undertaking a PhD at Concordia University researching music improvisation, health and wellbeing, Deborah also offers clinical sessions and supervision through her practice: www.deborahseabrook.com
Odeya Nini is an LA based vocalist, composer, yoga instructor and vocal coach. Her music spans orchestral pieces to solo vocal composition, sound installations and sound healing Voice Baths. Her teaching leads people on a journey to embody the voice through pure expression of sound and emotion and mind/ body awareness. Her work has been presented internationally from Los Angeles to Tel Aviv, Mongolia, Madagascar and Vietnam.
www.odeyanini.com
www.voicebath.com
Advocating for music therapy work
Susan Summers, PhD, AVPT, MTA
Lisa Mullaly, MTA
For the past 3 years, the MTABC advocacy team has envisioned and worked towards creation of materials, resources, and a plan for MTABC to promote music therapy in BC and advocate for increased job creation, aligning with CAMT’s advocacy campaign when possible. The advocacy team will present their plan and progress as well as what they envision for the future, inviting participants to brainstorm, offer ideas and help contribute to what is needed to promote the future of music therapy in BC.
Susan Summers, PhD, AVPT, MTA is a music therapist, vocal psychotherapist and instructor at Capilano University. She serves as the Director of Advocacy and Government Relations for the MTABC board and Advocacy Chair for the CAMT board of directors.
Lisa Mullaly, MTA is a music therapist, music teacher and behavior interventionist at the Squamish Academy of Music. She is currently writing her thesis towards a master’s in Neurological Music Therapy through Colorado State University’s online program, specializing in kids with autism. She serves as Chair for the MTABC Advocacy committee.
