IN an increasingly gadget-and app-focused world with the most popular continually being updated and unrolled in the market, it's not uncommon for households to have a few outdated, though working, items, like iPods, lying around.
A new program is offering the remedy and thanks to the support of a growing number of individuals across the country - including students at Capilano University who are leading the charge - old iPods are no longer gathering dust. Instead, they're proving to be an important tool, being put in the hands of a host of local music therapists, serving clients of all ages in hospitals, palliative care units, seniors homes, and rehabilitation centres, as well as youth who are considered to be at-risk.
The iPod Pharmacy is a project of Music Heals, a Vancouver-based foundation that raises funds and awareness for music therapy programs across the country. The non-profit was launched last year by executive director Chris Brandt and president David Barnett (owner of the Media Club and Regal Beagle). The duo was inspired by the long-running annual Music Therapy Ride, a local fundraising motorcycle ride in support of community-based music therapy services in B.C.
"It's a great event, but it's once a year," says Brandt, who has long been involved in the Vancouver music industry and currently teaches in BCIT's Music Business program.
Having been working on the Music Therapy Ride as well as some other music therapy-focused charitable projects in recent years, Brandt and Barnett decided to establish Music Heals as a means of supporting music therapy initiatives year-round.
Music Heals defines music therapy as the skillful use of music and musical elements by an accredited music therapist to promote, maintain, and restore mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health. Interested in supporting local practitioners, Music Heals offers a number of programs, including the Bandwagon, a mobile recording studio for use by music therapists, and Caring Concerts, seeing music professionals perform in hospitals as a form of entertainment.
A third Music Heals program is the iPod Pharmacy. "Giving an iPod to someone in a hospital technically isn't music therapy, but it's something that people can get their head around," says Brandt, adding a goal of the project is to create a low-barrier of entry for people to get involved with what they do.
Students involved in Capilano University's Music Therapy Student Association have been involved with the iPod Pharmacy since last semester. Community members are encouraged to mail old iPods to Music Heals. They're cleaned up and the music is removed, and they're then delivered to the Capilano student association, which manages requests from music therapists and students deliver the iPods to the therapists personally.
The exchange is more than just a simple drop off.
"A big part of being a music therapist in the Lower Mainland, and just in general, is networking and knowing people and getting to meet different therapists and other professionals," says Julia Campbell, outgoing co-president of Capilano University's Music Therapy Student Association. Campbell, 23, is currently finishing up her final year at Capilano and will begin the internship component of her degree in September, completing placements at a hospital and long-term care home in Comox.
"Along with the delivering of the iPods, the students can shadow these therapists for a day, or watch a session or see their facility where they work. It just builds. . . a little bit of a relationship and connection, just to build into that student's network because that's such a key part of finding work and supporting each other in a profession," says Campbell, a Prince Rupert native.
The Capilano students have so far delivered 25 iPods and they've been pleased with the response and the students have "benefitted greatly" from the experience, she says.
Stephen Williams, program co-ordinator of Capilano University's Bachelor of Music Therapy program, has been impressed by the degree of ownership his students have taken of the iPod Pharmacy project. He's likewise pleased with the opportunity it has provided for them to engage with professionals in their field in such a meaningful way.
"It just creates a different level of relationship," he says.
Brandt hopes to continue to grow the project across the country and more partners are beginning to come on board; for example a journalist covering tonight's Juno Awards in Regina, Sask., has been collecting iPods over the last week and they'll be distributed to therapists in that province.
In the meantime, Brandt remains committed to Music Heals' goal of raising awareness of music therapy and the practice's potential to influence positive change.
"We want to educate the public on what music therapy is and that, hopefully, will get them more invested and will allow us to do fundraising," he says.
In addition to supporting the iPod Pharmacy, community members interested in supporting Music Heals are encouraged to offer support to the eight teams running in their honour in the upcoming Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon and 5K set for June 23.
For more information on Music Heals or to offer support, visit musicheals.ca.
