Interview with Andrea Lamont, music therapist and music coordinator, music and arts program
Interview with Andrea Lamont, music therapist and music coordinator, music and arts program
Andrea Lamont
Can you provide a brief overview of the history of music and arts programming, particularly music therapy?
Fran Herman, music therapist, artist and advocate, initiated the program. She and the creative arts team did much in the development of art shows, Spiral Garden, authored books, and worked collaboratively to pioneer adapted music technology and software. This eventually grew into the development of the Virtual Music Instrument (VMI) around 2003. We are currently involved in research related to PRISMBeats, a DJ app, and are contributing to Dr. Biddiss’ music app for preschoolers with special needs and developmental differences.
How has the program evolved?
Since 2000 we’ve had a small team dedicated to helping inpatient clients and families to cope with hospitalization, process their journeys, and optimize progress through Interprofessional collaboration.
In approximately 2005, we started a fee-for-service community music therapy program to offer individual and group music therapy as well as adapted music education.
In 2015, we launched Holland Bloorview Rocks. Inspired by a donor, Garson Hoffman, we offer a unique rock band experience for clients facilitated by music therapists and enhanced by musicians from ”The Jam”, a private musicians club.
In 2020, we launched the OnTrack Harmony Music Therapy clinic, a special teaching and learning project in partnership with Wilfrid Laurier University to provide much needed mental health service for parents and caregivers of the children we serve.
What do you believe is the most unique or special aspect of music therapy?
Music therapy is a wonderful intervention in child development and rehabilitation. It’s nonverbal and emotive qualities allow individuals to express musically what they feel, especially if words are not yet developed or available. Sometimes, words cannot capture complexity in experience. Music can say many things at the same time (like instruments in a band, orchestra, or voices in a choir). When we get out what we are feeling, we have the opportunity to process our experiences and, consequently, understand ourselves better. The better we understand ourselves, the better we can advocate for our own health- care experience.
We also have the opportunity to tap into the impact of music on the brain. We have specific treatments that can help our clients to improve their gait and improve speech production. Specifically with neurologic music therapy, it can be used in interprofessional care such as joint speech language pathology and occupational therapy.
What inspires you in your day-to-day work?
For me, it’s all about empowerment through active participation. I love the opportunity to provide this through musical relationships with clients, through clinical education/training and in my research as a PhD student.
Do you have any memories to share from your time in this work that really stand out?
One of my best memories is from the beginning of my career where I had the opportunity to work with an interprofessional research team led by Dr. Tom Chau toward the development of the Virtual Music Instrument (VMI). It was so exciting to see “blue sky thinking” come to life with the VMI. I felt so proud of my team when we were awarded a Meritorious Service Cross from the Governor General for our work. I still use this technology today as I feel it gives ALL clients the ability to actively participate and know themselves through their best movements.
How do you feel music and arts programming at Holland Bloorview has progressed and changed over the years?
I think that we’ve learned to adapt and change with the demands of our clients and families. Initially, music therapy was more of an inpatient service. However, in 2005, we were hearing from outpatient families participating in VMI usability studies that they wanted to access adapted education and music therapy as community clients. This helped us to move forward our community music therapy program. I hope we can continue to grow our programs to inspire similar services in the community and that we can determine a funding source to ensure equity for all community clients with special needs and developmental differences.
What do you wish everyone could know about music therapy that they may not be aware of?
We want everyone to know that you don’t have to know anything about music or playing instruments to benefit. Music is a basic human right and we are offering a connection to that resource through adaptation (access), education (music as a life-long friend and expression of self) and community. Music therapy and music psychotherapy is a pathway for us to use music to improve our function and ways we think about our lives.
Read more about Fran Herman.
Can you provide a brief overview of the history of music and arts programming, particularly music therapy?
Fran Herman, music therapist, artist and advocate, initiated the program. She and the creative arts team did much in the development of art shows, Spiral Garden, authored books, and worked collaboratively to pioneer adapted music technology and software. This eventually grew into the development of the Virtual Music Instrument (VMI) around 2003. We are currently involved in research related to PRISMBeats, a DJ app, and are contributing to Dr. Biddiss’ music app for preschoolers with special needs and developmental differences.
How has the program evolved?
Since 2000 we’ve had a small team dedicated to helping inpatient clients and families to cope with hospitalization, process their journeys, and optimize progress through Interprofessional collaboration.
In approximately 2005, we started a fee-for-service community music therapy program to offer individual and group music therapy as well as adapted music education.
In 2015, we launched Holland Bloorview Rocks. Inspired by a donor, Garson Hoffman, we offer a unique rock band experience for clients facilitated by music therapists and enhanced by musicians from ”The Jam”, a private musicians club.
In 2020, we launched the OnTrack Harmony Music Therapy clinic, a special teaching and learning project in partnership with Wilfrid Laurier University to provide much needed mental health service for parents and caregivers of the children we serve.
What do you believe is the most unique or special aspect of music therapy?
Music therapy is a wonderful intervention in child development and rehabilitation. It’s nonverbal and emotive qualities allow individuals to express musically what they feel, especially if words are not yet developed or available. Sometimes, words cannot capture complexity in experience. Music can say many things at the same time (like instruments in a band, orchestra, or voices in a choir). When we get out what we are feeling, we have the opportunity to process our experiences and, consequently, understand ourselves better. The better we understand ourselves, the better we can advocate for our own health- care experience.
We also have the opportunity to tap into the impact of music on the brain. We have specific treatments that can help our clients to improve their gait and improve speech production. Specifically with neurologic music therapy, it can be used in interprofessional care such as joint speech language pathology and occupational therapy.
What inspires you in your day-to-day work?
For me, it’s all about empowerment through active participation. I love the opportunity to provide this through musical relationships with clients, through clinical education/training and in my research as a PhD student.
Do you have any memories to share from your time in this work that really stand out?
One of my best memories is from the beginning of my career where I had the opportunity to work with an interprofessional research team led by Dr. Tom Chau toward the development of the Virtual Music Instrument (VMI). It was so exciting to see “blue sky thinking” come to life with the VMI. I felt so proud of my team when we were awarded a Meritorious Service Cross from the Governor General for our work. I still use this technology today as I feel it gives ALL clients the ability to actively participate and know themselves through their best movements.
How do you feel music and arts programming at Holland Bloorview has progressed and changed over the years?
I think that we’ve learned to adapt and change with the demands of our clients and families. Initially, music therapy was more of an inpatient service. However, in 2005, we were hearing from outpatient families participating in VMI usability studies that they wanted to access adapted education and music therapy as community clients. This helped us to move forward our community music therapy program. I hope we can continue to grow our programs to inspire similar services in the community and that we can determine a funding source to ensure equity for all community clients with special needs and developmental differences.
What do you wish everyone could know about music therapy that they may not be aware of?
We want everyone to know that you don’t have to know anything about music or playing instruments to benefit. Music is a basic human right and we are offering a connection to that resource through adaptation (access), education (music as a life-long friend and expression of self) and community. Music therapy and music psychotherapy is a pathway for us to use music to improve our function and ways we think about our lives.
Read more about Fran Herman.