August 10, 1980

Music therapy new in Canada

Only offered at Capilano College

No university was willing to take such a small,
relatively unheard-of program, so the only music
therapy courses in Canada are offered at Capilano
College in North Vancouver, where they have

been growing in size and recognition every year

since their introduction.

Using music as a
therapetic medium 15 a very
old idea in many cultures.
but it was not until just after
World War II that it began
to be studied in the West, as
the cnormous overflow of
mental patients led to ¢x-
perimentation with many
new kinds of treatment.

Although new in Canada.
the field is well established 1n
such countries as England.
Germany and Denmark and
1s under considerable study
by American psychologists

There is) an enormous
range of people with whom
music is used as a treatment

In their practicum
placements Capilano

students work in = schools,
homes for retarded children

and adults, gencral
hospitals, facilities for
handicapped peoplic.

prisons, extended Care units
and geriatric hospitals as
well as centres concentrating
on preventative medicine
such as human growth and
awareness institutions.
Pionecring a

unique
program is certainly an
exciting and exhilarating

experience for all involved.
but it also comes with tts
problems. As they travel
around the Lower Mainiand
to work in different places
students have often had to
explain that they are

therapists, NOT
tertainers

Once that is understood
and their work has been
demonstrated, however, the
response and support has
been “phenomenal”.

Students in the Capilano
program must have a college
level of proficiency in one
instrument such as flute.
guitar, voice or piano, and
dunng their course they will
be required to pick up a
second = tnstrument. they
study poctry, dance, art, and
music appreciation as well as
many aspects of psychology.

Although the = music
therapy classes are far from
large, it is difficult to get in
because many applicants arc
refused. People from across
Canada are screened for
ability. intcrests. and above
all, the emotonal stability
and maturity necessary to
work in group situations and
with difficult patients

en-

When they graduate, the
music therapy students are
trained to develop programs
for any age group) with
mental. physical oor
emotional disabilities. There
were 11 graduates this year,
but every succeeding class 1s
larger.

It isn’t casy for college
graduates to find jobs these
days and in a field as new as
music therapy the em-
ploynent problem 1s
compounded since new
positions have to be created
to accommodate the
students. So far, however,
Capilano's grads have been

quite fortunate in finding
work.

As a native of North
Vancouver Cara Elrod was

ttle only one in her class this
year from the College
region Cara graduated from
the music therapy program

CONTINUED ON PAGE C6

CAPILANO COL-

LEGE STUDENT
Cara Elrod works
with children as
part of her Music
Therapy course.
Using music as a
therapeutic medi-
um in settings
ranging from
hospitals and
prisons to homes
for the  handi-
capped and_ in-
stitutions for
human growth and
preventative medi-
cine,. is a
recognized field in
Europe and the

 U.-S., but new to

-: Canada where the

:’ only institution to
‘offer the program is
Cap College.

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