Be Your Note
Music Therapy Services
“The brain that engages in music is changed by music.”
– Michael Thaut, Ph. D.
Professor of Music and
Rehabilitation Sciences Institute
University of Toronto
The Rationale for Music Therapy
There is abundant research that shows the effectiveness of music therapy to:
- Stimulate Cognition/ Memory
- Promote Vocalization/Language Ability
- Promote Sensory-Motor Activity
- Reduce Fear/Anxiety/Stress
- Alter Blood Pressure, Heart-rate
- Alleviate Pain
- Foster Socialization – Improve communication
- Facilitate Emotional Expression
- Improve Mood/Energy
- Restore Self Worth
Do you have to be “musical” to benefit from
Music Therapy?
No, because music therapy uses music to address non-musical treatment goals, most people can benefit. The first step is to obtain a music therapy assessment to determine a client’s level of functioning and his/her relationship to music. Has he been an occasional listener or a more active participant? From the information gathered, I create a treatment plan and design music interventions that connect to the client’s experience and musical preferences and align with defined goals.
“Patricia Mulholland is a truly gifted Music Therapist. She embodies the characteristics that bring out the best in each person: patience, kindness, compassion, knowledge, talent and the ability to develop a therapeutic relationship in a home, educational or clinical group home setting.
Patricia has worked with my daughter, who has always loved music, for approximately two years. She has multiple disabilities, including cerebral palsy with left side weakness and vision impairment. Patricia designed a treatment plan to facilitate her deep connection to music while addressing non-musical goals of building confidence, self-esteem, calmness and decreasing anxiety. Together they work on improving posture, vocal articulation and projection, using a pitch pipe, learning to play ukulele and keyboard and writing lyrics to a song.
Patricia has made a huge difference in my daughter’s life.
She has truly proven that Music is Medicine; we never stop learning; nothing is impossible and everyone has a gift!”
~ Noreen (Parent and Guardian)
“I have been working with Patricia for many years, assisting her in providing music therapy for individuals with brain injury and neurological deficits. She constantly amazes me with her innovative ideas! Her therapeutic methods and music choices draw on rhythm, melody, dynamics, tempo and harmony to evoke healthy reactions of joy, happiness, briskness, or sadness from clients. Under her gentle guidance, I have witnessed increased concentration, motor and language skills, as well as heightened motivation, improved mood, ability to learn, and restored memory after participants listened to specific music, sang or played instruments.
Patricia is a master of inclusion, inviting everyone to her sessions regardless of musical ability, mobility or intellectual disability. The participants trust her because the music- making is never assessed in any artistic way. Certain songs offer opportunities for individuals to break the barrier of shyness and relieve tension. She has the ability to stimulate the imagination by focusing on improvisation and creativity. Patricia is a music therapist who knows how to heal both body and soul! ”
~ Boguslawa Slawiec, CTRS/L; CBIS.
“There are no un-musical people, only people with no musical experience.”
~ David Darling
Grammy Award winning cellist
Master Teacher of Improvisation
Co-Founder, Music For People