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KEY MUSIC THERAPY

Since 1997

What is Music Therapy?

Music therapy is a discipline in which Certified Music Therapists (MTAs) 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 (CAMT), September 2020

What is Key Music Therapy?

Established in 1997 by Director, Melanie Keyes, Key Music Therapy (KMT) specializes in providing music therapy service in long term and complex continuing care. Currently the KMT team includes 15 Music Therapists working in 20 long term care facilities and hospitals across Oakville, Stouffville, Newmarket and the Greater Toronto area. Music Therapists are on-site for full day service providing assessment, consultation, group and individual sessions.

Key Music Therapy is a company with 25 years experience in hiring, training and supporting the work of Music Therapists in hospitals and long term care homes. We will match you with a Music Therapist who can meet the unique needs of your site. Our therapists are highly skilled clinicians skilled clinicians with varied specializations including Registered Psychotherapists (CRPO), Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT), Guided Imagery and Music (GIM), palliative/ end of life care, and fluency in several languages.


As Director of Key Music Therapy, I am available to address your music therapy questions, ideas and concerns. We look forward to forming an on-going partnership. We will work with you to develop and maintain a program that fully meets your needs and expectations. Contact us to inquire!

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-provide motivation for physical and social activity
-facilitate communication and emotional expression
-stimulate cognition: maintain skills, aid new learning
-provide multi-sensory stimulation: auditory, visual, tactile, kinaesthetic

-decrease pain perception; facilitate comfort and relaxation

-support clients in palliative/ end of life care

-decrease feelings of loneliness, grief and isolation; provide emotional support
-meaningfully connect with clients with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias

-decrease agitation, disruptive behaviours and wandering
-provide a sense of structure and order
-increase awareness of self, others and environment
-increase attention and on-task behaviour
-reflect a resident’s culture, language and personal preferences

Music has the remarkable ability to reach clients who are disoriented due to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

Music can provide an alternative form of communication when words fail.

Rhythm, by its very nature, can provide a sense of structure for individuals whose perception of the world may be disorganized. Music-making can be a successful experience, as the part of the brain responsible for musical learning and memory is highly resilient, and new neural pathways can be formed.

In addition, music often brings associations with past experience. With an understanding of a client’s musical preference, cultural background and personal history, music can be used to facilitate self-expression, motivation, comfort and relaxation.

Benefits of Music Therapy

People sitting in a circle formation actively playing drums during a music therapy drum circle.
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