JB Music Therapy

04/23/2026

Just as spring invites fresh starts, our brains and bodies thrive on newness too. Exploring new music—whether it’s a different genre, instrument, or even a new playlist—can boost mood, spark curiosity, and support overall wellbeing. “The brain changes in response to experience—new learning literally helps it rewire.” — Neuroplasticity research

This season, try something new:
🎶 Listen outside your usual favourites
🎶 Learn an instrument or even a new song
🎶 Let music surprise you

Growth doesn’t have to be big to be meaningful. Sometimes, it starts with pressing play on something new.

04/20/2026

No one grows up aspiring to live with addiction.

Yet today, 21% of Canadians (about 6 million people) will meet the criteria for addiction in their lifetime, and nearly 49 million Americans are living with a substance use disorder.

Addiction changes the brain—often leading to cycles of craving, disconnection, and loss of self.

Recovery requires more than medical stabilization. It requires meaningful opportunities to heal, retrain the brain, reset the nervous system, and rebuild connection.

That’s why Berklee College of Music has partnered with Boston Public Health Commission to integrate music therapy across detox, residential, outpatient, and peer-support settings.

This initiative highlights what’s possible when music and health work hand in hand.

Read the full story here: https://zurl.co/0mszW

Berklee College of Music berkleemusictherapy Boston Public Health Commission

04/20/2026

No one grows up aspiring to live with addiction.

Yet today, 21% of Canadians (about 6 million people) will meet the criteria for addiction in their lifetime, and nearly 49 million Americans are living with a substance use disorder.

Addiction changes the brain—often leading to cycles of craving, disconnection, and loss of self.

Recovery requires more than medical stabilization. It requires meaningful opportunities to heal, retrain the brain, and rebuild connection.

That’s why Berklee College of Music has partnered with Boston Public Health Commission to integrate music therapy across detox, residential, outpatient, and peer-support settings.

This initiative highlights what’s possible when music and health work hand in hand.

Read the full story here: https://zurl.co/QNYUw

Berklee College of Music berkleemusictherapy Boston Public Health Commission

04/15/2026

04/15/2026

Here are 4 ways Music Therapy benefits patients in Acute Care ⬇️

1️⃣ MOTIVATION: Music Therapists use the brain's reward response to music to enhance motivation in recovery. Music Therapists may even facilitate co-treatments with other Allied Health disciplines to enhance patient outcomes.

2️⃣ MOOD: Music is linked deeply to our emotions and can provide emotional support during a patient's hospital stay.

3️⃣ MOVEMENT: The body and brain naturally entrain to a consistent beat. Music Therapists can optimize this natural response to increase patient movement and coordination with music.

4️⃣ MEMORY: Music can evoke memories and reminiscence, promoting positivity and relaxation, and improving working memory function during patient recovery.

In November 2025 we were honoured to receive the Health Quality Alberta Patient Experience Award for the important work our team of Music Therapists does every day.

04/14/2026

We are deeply honoured to partner with National Music Centre | Centre National de Musique in advancing music therapy across Canada. Since 2018, the NMC Music Therapy initiative has helped bring music therapy to more individuals, families, and healthcare organizations—from infants to elders—demonstrating the essential role of music therapists in supporting health, recovery, and wellbeing across diverse settings. As we look ahead, we are excited to continue shaping the future of care through this meaningful work, made possible by the generous support of the Jim Pattison Foundation. 🎶🇨🇦. Every donation is matched.

Learn more: https://www.studiobell.ca/nmc-music-therapy-initiative

04/13/2026

Have you ever wondered what happens in a music therapy session? Scroll through a few common examples!

Each music therapy session is tailored to a person’s goals, abilities, and preferences to ensure successful participation. Our team of music therapists is skilled in formulating treatment plans that advance health, recovery, and learning.

Thanks for spending time with us during World Music Therapy Week!

04/11/2026

Leaning Into Our Strengths and Community 🎶

This week, JB Music Therapy was proud to begin World Music Therapy Week at Calgary Economic Development’s Report to the Community. For Shannon Robinson, Emma Mabley, and Jennifer Buchanan, it was a meaningful reminder of the broader systems that surround and support our work.

We were honoured by JBMT’s recognition from Katherine Emberly of TELUS Business, whose comments highlighted the impact of music therapy within Calgary’s innovative and compassionate community.

We were also inspired by remarks from Mayor Jeromy Farkas, who spoke about leaning into our strengths—a message that resonates deeply with the values of music therapy in our work with clients. While many important topics were discussed from the stage, we noted a missed opportunity to address those navigating life’s disruptions and the pressures on our healthcare system.

The future of Calgary’s economy depends on innovation and investment—absolutely—but it also depends on the health, education, and resilience of its people, including how we care for children, elders, and those most vulnerable.



TELUS Business
Calgary Economic Development
Shannon Robinson

04/10/2026

Today is the beginning of World Music Therapy Week, and this year feels especially meaningful.

In September, JB Music Therapy will celebrate 35 years of dedicating our services to strengthening health, recovery, and wellbeing.

Our team of Certified Music Therapists delivers more than 20,000 sessions annually across hospitals, schools, workplaces, and community settings—with goals specific to mood regulation, memory, motivation, recovery, and quality of life across the lifespan.

Alongside our clinical work, we are committed to contributing through presentations, workforce development, and the development of music-therapy-informed health technology—helping to support the future work of MTAs and expand access to care.

What began as a small Calgary practice has grown into one of Canada’s leading employers of certified music therapists (MTAs), mentoring and supporting over 5% of the country’s MTAs, and introducing many individuals and organizations to the depth of this work.

To mark this milestone, we’re sharing a short video that captures the heart of our work.

Thank you to every healthcare partner, educator, researcher, intern, client, and colleague who has shaped this journey. We are grateful to be doing this work alongside you.

💛



https://zurl.co/RBEXt

Video: mindspinmedia.com

JB Music Therapy (JBMT) is a Canadian music therapy company providing professional music therapy services in Calgary and across Alberta since 1991. Deliverin...

04/07/2026

Music therapy goals can be misunderstood.

Myth:
Music therapy is about fixing what’s “wrong.”

Fact:
Music therapy is about supporting what’s strong.

While we are often referred due to a diagnosis—brain injury, stroke, autism, anxiety, stress—our work doesn’t stop there.

We work alongside the diagnosis, while connecting with the part of each person that supports emotional wellbeing, identity, and connection.

We focus on what can be strengthened.

We don’t define people by their disease, diagnosis, or challenge—we meet them as whole people.

Because who someone is matters just as much as what they are going through.

💛

04/04/2026

Co-treatments make a difference—each bringing our expertise to support the same person or group, in the same moment.

A recent study exploring co-treatment between physical therapists and music therapists in late-stage Huntington’s disease highlights just how powerful this can be.

When movement support and simple rhythmic cueing were combined, participants showed improved control, coordination, and safety.

But what stands out most is not just the outcomes—it’s the relationship between the professionals. Shared goals. Clear roles. Mutual respect. Real-time responsiveness - leading to positive outcomes.

Our work with individuals living with Huntington’s disease began in our very first year of practice—starting in 1991 with a camp in Calgary—and has continued over the years as part of interdisciplinary teams in complex care environments.

It’s encouraging to see research beginning to formalize what experienced teams have long understood in practice.

This study reflects what many of us have seen firsthand:
➡️ Simple, intentional music cues can support movement in profound ways
➡️ Co-treatment is not just collaborative—it’s transformational when done well

Grateful to see this work being explored and documented.

🔗https://zurl.co/rTpks

A new study looking into combined music and physical therapy shows that simple rhythmic cues work better than complex music or instructions, helping to improve movement control and reducing chorea.

04/02/2026

JB Music Therapy is so proud to have been part of this initiative, and we’re so pleased to see this work being shared and recognized internationally. Led by Dr. Stephanie Plamondon, this project explored the implementation of the Music Care Digital Medical Device in medical units across Alberta Health Services.

The results—showing meaningful reductions in pain and anxiety—reflect the growing role digital music therapeutics can play as a supportive, evidence-informed tool in healthcare. Congratulations to Dr. Plamondon and the entire team on this well-deserved recognition. We are grateful to contribute to work that continues to move patient-centred care forward.

American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. 105(2S):S1-S47, February 2026.