Jennifer Shaw, behavioural specialist at Toronto Rehab, plays music with colleagues for patients.
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Earlier this month, patients and staff at the University Health Network (UHN) were treated to a special concert, not by a hospital music therapist, but by Toronto indie rock band, The Beaches.
Known for their viral hit Blame Brett, which boasts more than 90 million streams on Spotify, the band swapped sold-out arenas for a more intimate hospital setting, playing for just a few dozen attendees in one of their most personal performances. Moments of such visible joy are rare in hospital settings, and this one struck a powerful chord as the band played a relaxed set of tunes in support of UHN’s music healing programs, which assist patients with breathing challenges in rehabilitating and regaining control of their health.
“It was such an honour to perform,” said The Beaches’ guitarist and keyboard player, Leandra Earl, who used to play for her grandmother when she had Alzheimer’s disease. “How much music helps people heal – not only the mind, but also the soul, the body – it’s really just all encompassing.”
