1. Connecting Through Music Lessons: Connecting through Music Lessons offers a specialised learning environment for children and adults that supports and teaches through integrating the learning of music and life skills. Lessons are taught by teachers trained in working with people with different support needs.
2. Connecting Through Music Therapy: Connecting Through Music Therapy uses music to achieve non-musical goals, specialising in neurodevelopment, neurorehabilitation, and mental wellness for children, youth, adults, and seniors.

Shelby Lynn, Connecting Through Music Teacher

Diploma in Music

Shelby Lynn is a graduate of the Humber College music program. She received extensive training in behaviour-based learning at the Kohai Centre where Shelby taught music, academics and life/functional skills for five years. She has over 15 years of musical performance and teaching experience. Shelby brings a client-focused, professional approach to her teaching, managing learning and behaviour difficulties in students as she teaches.

Reknee Harrett, Connecting Through Music Teacher and Music Therapist

M.Mus, MT-BC, MTA, Neurologist Music Therapist

Reknee Harrett is a music teacher, board-certified music therapist (MT-BC), accredited music therapist (MTA), and Neurologic Music Therapist (NMT) who completed their education at the University of Toronto Master’s of Music: Applied Music and Health Sciences (M.Mus.) under the direction of Dr. Corene Thaut. Reknee has extensive experience as a music therapist and music teacher for neurodivergent (Autism, ADHD, global developmental delay) children, youth, and adults, people with traumatic brain injuries, Parkinson’s disease, and genetic disorders, global developmental delay, intersecting diagnosis, mental health, elderly care, and mental health support. Reknee is committed to providing effective, holistic, and affirming music therapy sessions that value and celebrate each individual for who they are.

Shelby:

Shelby designs a course of instruction for each student that includes activities that vary according to the ability range, age and instructional needs of the students. Students develop rhythm skills through the use of percussion instruments. Topics include: Placement of instruments; Hand position; Posture for playing. For singing instruction, students learn: How to use and strengthen their voice; Dynamic and breath control; How to match their voice to the teacher’s voice; How to sing with signing and actions; and How to express emotion through songs. Students also learn to: Participate in a group setting; Respond to instructions; Follow a routine; Imitate actions; Move to songs; Play for an audience and be part of an audience. Lots of Encouragement and Smiles are a big part of every lesson!

Reknee:

Reknee follows an active music making approach. Lessons are collaborative, individualised, and often use a play-based approach to music making. Students can learn a variety of instruments including piano, guitar, drums, ukulele, shakers, boomwhackers, xylophone, slide whistle, electronic instruments, and percussion instruments as well as singing and movement. Lessons may consist of songwriting, improvisation, instrument learning and playing, storytelling through music, sensory movement, music relaxation, music listening, and more. Instruments are adapted to meet the needs of the student using non-traditional playing methods and adaptive technology

During the initial lessons, the student will engage in music making as well as discussing musical goals and life skills that you or your child are strong with and skills that are still being developed.  As the lessons progress, students may work towards learning instruments or voice, preparing for performances, or engaging in play-based music learning to support their skills development. These lessons may help students strengthen and develop fundamentals for life including perseverance, working on paying attention, and building self-esteem and confidence. Lessons are adapted based on each student’s learning needs. Throughout the lessons, students will receive progress updates regarding what the student has accomplished and recommendations for future lessons.

Are there any group programs?

Yes! Students may join the performance ensemble that is specially designed to meet the needs of students in The Music Studio’s Connecting Through Music program. Students learn classic and contemporary pop songs. The ensembles are for vocal, piano, guitar, bass and drum students who have been playing for at least one year.

Skip to my Lou

Ghost Song

Music therapy is a discipline in which credentialed professionals (Music Therapist Accredited/ Musicothérapeute accrédite) use music purposefully within therapeutic relationships to support development, health, and well-being. Music therapists use music safely and ethically to address human needs within cognitive, communicative, emotional, musical, physical, social, and spiritual domains. (Canadian Association of Music Therapists)

Neurologic music therapy (NMT) is an evidence-based clinical treatment system that is driven by advances in neuroscience and the understanding of the perception, production, and performance of music and how music can influence and change non-musical brain and behavior function. The NMT Academy training is endorsed by the World Federation of Neurorehabilitation (WFNR), the European Federation of Neurorehabilitation Societies (EFNS), and the International Society for Clinical Neuromusicology (CNM). (The Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy).

NMTs work with many populations including early childhood development, Autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy, Alzhimer’s disease and dementia, traumatic brain injury, aphasia, Huntington’s disease, mental health, and other neurologic conditions that affect cognitive, motor, communication, and psychosocial needs.

Music therapy can support individuals with cognitive (e.g., attention, executive function, memory) motor (motor development and rehabilitation), sensory processing, speech and language (e.g., aphasia, developmental language, non-verbal or symbolic language) and psychosocial goals (e.g., self-esteem and self-worth, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety)

No! No prior musical experience is required for music therapy.

At the initial appointment, we will get a chance to know each other and engage in music making. In the early sessions we will start the assessment process to set a baseline for our progress. Throughout the treatment period, you will receive progress notes, and every twelve weeks or so, we will complete a reassessment and you will receive a treatment summary of what we’ve worked on, and recommendations of what we can continue to accomplish.

That is fantastic! As a music therapist, we are part of the multidisciplinary team and can work with your other programs in order to best support you!

Our Connecting through Music Lessons meet the criteria for some Special Services at Home (SSAH) and Ontario Autism Program (OAP) funding. Adult students may be covered through the Passport program for adults with developmental disabilities. Connecting through Music Therapy may be covered by select health insurance policies. Please inquire with your service providers for eligibility information.

We are the Dinosaurs

Ghost Song

Information Provided By:

Reknee Harrett
M.Mus., MTA, MT-BC
Neurologic Music Therapist
The Music Studio