Music for Wellness
This course, designed and facilitated by music therapist Aimee Berends, targets teens who wish to explore the power of music and songwriting to help ease stress. We know that songwriting and the creative arts can help relax students, improve their self-esteem, and leave them with a finished product that they are proud of, which may help them overcome some of their obstacles. Students will finish the program with the opportunity to record their original song.
Music for Wellness is a free program offered to students ages 12-14. It is offered in two formats:
One-hour online “trial” workshop on Thursday February 25, 2021, 7-8PM.
Six-week online program starting Tuesday March 9, 2021, 7-8PM, recurring on Tuesday evenings.
Registration Instructions:
- Create an account with the Hamilton Recreation website if you have never signed up for any City Rec Centre programming before.
- Visit https://rec.hamilton.ca/enterprise/program/index
- Search for the Program Barcode listed below:
- One-hour workshop Thursday Feb 25: 00042005
- Six-week program on Tuesdays, starting March 9: 00042009
Click here to register on the Hamilton Recreation Website. Limited spots available.
Questions about registration? Please contact Samantha.St.Aubin@hamilton.ca.
Learning Goals
- Write, edit, and record an original piece of music (six-week only)
- Harness the power of music and self-expression
- Be part of a positive, creative environment
About Aimee Berends
Aimee Berends (MMT, BMus, MA In Progress) is a music therapist and freelance musician. She has held the position of principal oboe in the Guelph Symphony Orchestra and played with several other groups including the Elora Festival Singers, the Spiritus Ensemble and Myaudia (Peter Hatch). As a music therapist, Aimee’s clinical focus is mental health and addictions. Her clients have accessed her music therapy service through street-based programs in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and on psychiatric inpatient and outpatient units in Kitchener-Waterloo. She has published articles in Music and Medicine, Music Therapy Perspectives and The Canadian Journal of Music Therapy. Aimee enjoys teaching adults as a Music Care Training instructor for the Room 217 Foundation and has been sessional instructor at Wilfrid Laurier University and guest lecturer at McMaster University.