Music Therapist Carolyn Neapole delivered a lovely speech at this year's Music Therapy Ride breakfast. Read on to see how the work she and other music therapists do has hugely positive effects on those that need music most:
I am here today to speak on behalf of the music therapists who have been lucky enough to use the Bandwagon to create unique and meaningful music therapy for clients all over the province of B.C. The Music Therapy Ride is clearly an amazing event, and what is even more amazing is the opportunity it creates for the Bandwagon to reach so many people in need. I would like to thank all of you for your generosity in supporting this important cause, and the best way that I can thank you is by telling you about how I watched the Bandwagon open hearts, and change lives.
My own experience with the Bandwagon came while I was facilitating a group called Youth Living With Loss, a community based bereavement support group for youths from age 13 to 25. Our membership numbers were up and down. A core group of four young women came to groups consistently, but without much in the way of a focus. It was rare that the group members showed any interest in creative self-expression. Despite being from very different backgrounds, loss had created a bond between the young women. They knew and trusted each other, but loss had also given them significant pain at a young age, and they were not quick to trust new people.
The group starting showing some interest in this "Bandwagon thing”, so I came into the Bandwagon project ubër-organized. I was hopeful that the project would help the group find a sense of purpose. Our plan was to create and record original songs, both as individuals and as a group. We would put together a CD that group members could give to their families for Christmas. What happened instead was amazing.
Every week we had the Bandwagon, all the members showed up. On the first night, Siobhan arrived with a full set of original lyrics. As we composed the music and melody, the other three group members pretended to be back up singers and oooooed and ahhhhhhed at all the appropriate times. Once the goofing around subsided, we talked about the personal nature of Siobhan’s words. It became clear not everyone was comfortable talking about their feelings. We had a group discussion about how hard it is to let people know how you really feel. We also used the Bandwagon to have a karaoke night – because Kendra and Nicole wanted to sing without consequences.
As Siobhan said,
“The bandwagon brought focus to our group. We had something to focus our creative energy on, it was fun to create music but it was also fun to play with the system without commitment.” (Siobhan)
There were some truly remarkable moments during the project. One moment that stands out for me was the night Cassy agreed to record her singing. Nervous, shy, and often so soft-spoken that she was hard to hear, Cassy had worked up her nerve to tell me that she wanted to try recording. She recorded her singing for the first time, and then was brave enough to let the other group members hear it.
My particular focus as a music therapist is the voice, and helping people find their voice, both literally and figuratively. I think Cassy’s relationship to her voice changed that night, and the potential of what that could mean for her life is quite exciting.
The most poignant moment of all came during the karaoke night. In a quiet moment in the midst of all the silly fun, we began to talk, in earnest, about how hard it is to live with missing someone. About how hard it is when you realize that you no longer miss them all the time, and whether or not it is OK to have the pain of losing them change shape, sometimes fading into the background as you continue to live your life.
The Bandwagon project that you are supporting today, gave these four young women a reason to reunite and be present in each other’s lives. The Bandwagon sessions were surprising, special, and created some measurable positive momentum the lives of these youths. Even with years of experience in this work, I could not have predicted the emotional places that the Bandwagon took us.
Everywhere it goes, the Bandwagon offers people a chance to be seen and heard, in ways they may never have had before. The bandwagon is always on the move, and has been to many places in the last year:
1) Saanich Peninsula Hospital in Saanich
2) Glacier View Lodge Complex Care Facility in Courtney
3) St Joseph's General Hospital in Courtney,
4) The Gardens at Qualicum Beach (Long term care) in Nanaimo
5) Shuswap Middle School (life skills class) in Salmon Arm
6) Salmon Arm Secondary School Sulivan Campus (combo of kids in and out of life skills class)
7) Rosewood Manor (LT care) in Richmond
After the Ride it is back to Richmond for a project with children and youth at The Arts Connection.
Imagine – at every Bandwagon stop along the way, what you are doing here today is creating the potential for positive change in lives and communities all over the province.
Thank you so much for supporting music therapy and music therapists in British Columbia.
