NMC’s Music Therapy Initiative
National Music Centre is committed to advancing music therapy through onsite programs at Studio Bell and through partnerships with hospitals and care facilities, bringing the healing power of music to people across Canada.
Since 2018, the National Music Centre (NMC) has partnered with JB Music Therapy and the Calgary Health Foundation to deliver music therapy programs in all five Acute Care Hospitals in the Calgary Zone—serving patients in ICU, palliative care, stroke recovery, mental health, burns, and more. In 2025, these programs were honoured with the Health Quality Council of Alberta’s Patient Experience Award for their outstanding impact on patient care.
What is Music Therapy?
Music therapy is a health profession in which certified music therapists use evidence-based techniques—such as singing, instrument improvisation, songwriting, and sensory-based music experiences—to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs.
- In hospitals, it can help a stroke survivor regain speech through rhythm, calm an anxious ICU patient, or comfort a parent holding their premature baby for the first time.
- In the community, it supports families struggling to connect with one another, and individuals in continuing care who may be experiencing profound loneliness.
A Growing National Impact
NMC has partnered with JB Music Therapy and the Calgary Health Foundation to deliver ongoing music therapy programs in Calgary hospitals:
- Foothills Medical Centre
- South Health Campus
- Peter Lougheed Centre
- Rockyview General Hospital
- Arthur Child Cancer Care Centre
Following its success in Alberta, NMC’s Music Therapy Initiative is expanding across Canada:
- Saskatchewan – Partnerships with the Ranch Ehrlo Society in Regina to support mental health and family programs, and with the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon to provide music therapy for infants requiring medical care and their parents in the NICU.
- Manitoba and British Columbia – The Music Therapy Initiative is expanding into new regions across Canada. In Winnipeg, a partnership with Riverview Health Centre is supporting the introduction of music therapy services, with a focus on patients in rehabilitation and long-term care, alongside a new clinical internship program in collaboration with the University of Manitoba. In British Columbia, early-stage work is underway with Island Health to establish a music therapy program within neurorehabilitation at Victoria General Hospital, including stroke care.
- Growing the Initiative – The National Music Centre continues to expand access to music therapy in hospitals, communities, and long-term care settings, with a focus on reaching regions where services are not currently available and working toward a truly national program.
Your Gift, Doubled
Thanks to the generosity of the Jim Pattison Foundation, every dollar you give will be matched—doubling your impact and helping more Canadians experience the healing power of music.
We need your help to make music therapy accessible to more people in need. By supporting NMC’s Music Therapy Initiative, you are giving individuals and families across Canada the chance to heal, connect, and thrive through the power of music.
You can make a difference in this transformative initiative. Donate today.
Are you looking to implement or expand music therapy services in your care facility?
Please fill out the intake form to tell us more about your project and start a conversation. At this time, we are prioritizing expansion into regions where music therapy services are not currently offered and are not accepting applications from regions where programs are already established.