Mackenzie Costron is the owner and founder of Find Your Voice Music Therapy and provides music therapy services to Halifax, NS and Area. She specializes in working with seniors including dementia and Alzheimer’s, mental health, palliative care as well as self-care and wellness. Mackenzie graduated from Acadia University with a Bachelor of Music Therapy (BMT) and is an Accredited Music Therapist (MTA) with the Canadian Association of Music Therapists (CAMT). She is also a Registered Counselling Therapist (RCT) with the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists (NSCCT) making her clients able to use their health insurance coverage for music therapy services.
Why did you choose music therapy?
Music has always been a huge part of my life. I started my musical journey when I was young taking piano lessons, private voice lessons and singing in choirs. In high school, I was actively involved with the symphonic and jazz bands playing alto saxophone and also began taking guitar lessons around this time.
Another facet, is that throughout my life I have always been interested in caring for people. When I was 6 my grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and out of my own interest would want to go to the hospital to look after for her. I had natural caregiver instincts even at a young age.
In grade 10 I found music therapy through a careers course and it amalgamated these two worlds perfectly. I enrolled in the Acadia University Music Therapy program and am fortunate to say, that I have chosen a career path that resonates with me deeply.
Why do you think music is effective as a form of therapy?
We all have experienced how music impacts our emotions, bodies, and minds. How the songs played on the radio, in the grocery store, or at a summer concert alter our state. And the neat thing is that we all have our own personal responses- good and bad! I believe that this happens for a few reasons:
Our bodies are innately musical- Think about it for a second… in our mother’s womb we are tuned into the natural rhythms of her body for 9 months. At birth our bodies then take on these exact same body rhythms that we don’t need to consciously think about for daily function! The fact that our being is so connected to sound and rhythm even at the beginning stages of life could very well impact human’s interest in music.
Our world is innately musical- Our environment is surrounded by rhythm, tone, and melody. Cars passing, people talking in the office, the sounds of the wind and leaves rustling in the trees, music playing at social gatherings. We have our daily, weekly, yearly routines and rhythms. Nature also has their routines and rhythms such as bear hibernation, bird migration, or the lunar cycle as examples. The world is truly a musical place of structured and unstructured sound. And perhaps because music constantly surround us it naturally becomes very comforting and soothing in nature.
Human connection through music- We connect on an emotional and spiritual level with music and as we do so we connect with others. This is because the neurotransmitter oxytocin (“the bonding hormone”) is released when we listen to music. Humans are naturally programmed for love, connection, and belonging. So of course music feels good in this context!
Music and medicine- Research with music and medicine show us scientifically what is happening in our bodies when music is happening. With advancements in technology we have data on the “why” behind why music works as therapy.
Why did you launch music therapy practices in Kingston, Ontario and Halifax, Nova Scotia?
I launched a music therapy practice back home in Kingston, ON because I knew that there wasn’t an Accredited Music Therapist in the area. To me it’s very important in our young profession, now gaining recognition through research in music and medicine, that we increase public awareness with music therapy. So people in our communities know of the health and wellness benefits that are useful to many people with many types of challenges.
?I launched a 2nd location in Halifax, NS because I have often looked at the Maritimes as my 2nd home while I attended Acadia University. I couldn’t imagine a better choice to launch as I am coming back to the place where my training and passion for music therapy began. I am so thrilled that Find Your Voice Music Therapy has the opportunity to expand and provide music therapy services to more people across the country. It is truly a gift to connect with all these individuals and share their stories through the power of music.
Want to learn more about Mackenzie? Connect with her anytime!
?Email: info@findyourvoicemusictherapy.com. Phone: 902-292-5147 or 1-800-827-3120 ext. 101