Flo looked around the hospital room. She looked at the plain walls. She looked at the TV. She looked at the IV tree where a bag hung, dripping liquid through a tube into her arm.

She had cried when the nurse put the needle into her arm. Even Daddy holding her hand did not take away the brief pain of the needle.

She was used to it now. The nurse had patiently explained how the liquid in the bag would help her get better. She was getting used to it, but didn’t mean she liked it!

What was she doing here anyway? Nothing to do. No one to play with. Sometimes she just wanted to explode and pull out the IV from her arm and run from the hospital. But she knew she would not get too far. Last time she tried walking by herself to the bathroom she almost fell. It was good that Mommy was there to help her.

Grrr. Moan. All she could do was sleep or watch the cartoons on TV until she drifted off again.

Grrr. She was tired of being sick. She was tired of being in the hospital. She missed her friends and having her family around. She missed her dog. She missed running around and climbing the jungle gym. She longed to sit on the swing with her older brother pushing her. Once he got her started, when she pumped really hard she could fly up so high she could see the whole neighborhood. Flo felt bored, frustrated and so lonely.

One morning after breakfast, she heard new sound coming from the hallway outside her room. Not just the nurses talking quietly or the big rolling supply shelf passing by. She could hear a jingling kind of noise. What could it be?

Someone stepped into her room pushing a cart with all kind of different stuff. Wow! Musical instruments. She recognized some of them from her kindergarten. The woman had a guitar strapped across her body. This was different.

“Hi Flo, my name is Pamela. I am a music therapist. I am wondering if I might visit with you for a few minutes.” Flo looked at the instruments on the cart.

“Do you see something you’d like to play?” Pamela asked.

Flo’s eyes lingered on a shiny red ball with a stick attached. Red was her favorite color. Pamela passed it to her, giving it a shake along the way. “It’s a maraca. Have you ever played one of these before?”

Flo took it and turned it around in her hands. Then boldly she gave it a shake. “We had something like this in kindergarten. What makes the sound?”

“There are some little pebbles inside. Play it some more.” This time Flo held on tight and shook it harder. It felt good to do that. “What else do you have?” Flo looked over at the cart. This time her eyes landed on a drum with a lollypop design on it. She pointed to it, and Pamela handed her the drum along with a mallet.

“You can use this to play the drum. Give it a try.”

Flo took the mallet and gave the drum a good wallop. The sound echoed loudly around the room. Pamela said, “Go ahead. This is your chance to make some noise.”

She reached around to the other side of the cart and pulled out another drum. As Flo played, Pamela joined in matching her beats. Flo stopped suddenly. Her urge was to hammer the drum so loudly, but she was afraid she’d break it or wake up the whole hospital and upset everyone.

Pamela moved to close the door to the room. “There now.  Your playing will not bother anyone. That drum can take lots of hard playing and you really know how to make it talk.”

Flo looked at the music therapist for a moment, and then she gathered all of her might and pounded into the drum. She let it take all of her frustration and anger.

When she had finished, she stopped and smiled. She was tired. But that had felt so good. “What next?”

“Wow!” Pamela said. “You sure needed to release all that. Well done! Hmm. Do you like to sing?”

“Oh, yes.” Said Flo.

“How about ‘She’s be Coming around the Mountain’?”

“Oh yes,” Flo chimed eagerly. She was getting a bit tired but didn’t want the therapist to leave. Together they sang about driving the white horses and silk pajamas and chicken and dumplings. Right through, Flo played on the drum. It was really fun to it to make the sound of the horses’ feet.

As they finished, Pamela could see how tired Flo was. “I think I’d best be on my way. Why don’t we finish with a little good bye song.”

Pamela sang, “Good bye Flo, Good bye Flo. It’s been fun playing with you today and thank you for sharing your feelings.” Flo sang “Good bye, Pamela, Good bye Pamela, I am so glad you came to see me today.”

“Would you like me to come back again?”

“I sure would,” said Flo.

As she watched Pamela leave, Flo smiled. She was tired, really tired, but felt so much better. She turned over onto her side for a nap and slipped into her dreams with her smile still on her face.

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The salt air (helotherapy) at the Salt Waves Spa has been shown to support the immune system and healing for many conditions. Listening to crystal and Tibetan singing bowls and healing vocals helps you relax even deeper, opening you to a deeper healing experience.  As a sound/energy practitioner, the music of the bowls and voice is a treatment in itself, helpful for letting go of emotional/mental/physical blocks to your wellness.

Suitable for wheel chairs.

Relaxing music to soothe your spirit and promote your body-mind healing

The salt spa – helotherapy – helps your immune system, respiratory and dermatological conditions, stress, allergies and more…

Not suitable for people with high blood pressure or heart disease where reduced sodium levels are part of the treatment.

Check out www.SaltWave.ca to learn more about the health benefits of the salt treatment.

Dates:  7

Friday, October 13, 2017 – CANCELLED

Keep watching for monthly dates…

Time: 7:00 – 8:45pm

Cost: $45 + HST=$50.85

A minimum of 5 people is needed with a maximum of 11-12.

Location: Salt Wave Spa, Westgate Mall, 1309 Carling Ave., by the food court.

Reserved Seating for 11 people – Minimum 5. Advance tickets only: Deadline: Friday, October 6 .

Tickets are available through Eventbrite at Facebook (with a small fee added): https://www.facebook.com/events/866600633505075/?acontext=%7B%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D

Or  Pamela at email hidden; JavaScript is required or by phone at 613-829-1556

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Crystal Singing Bowls for Deep Relaxation, Meditation and Healing

The sound of crystal singing bowls and healing voice help by bringing us to a place of deep relaxation where let go of old patterns. Let some new lighter energy into your life.

Included in the evening will be some special meditation and music for Earth Day.

Tickets: $25; ($15 seniors, lower income)

Saturday, April 22, 2017  7:30pm

Cancelled

Please Reserve your seat by contacting me at email hidden; JavaScript is required

or by phone 613-829-1556

Location: Peggy’s Holistic Oasis, 249 North River Road, Ottawa, ON (Enter North River Road via Montreal Rd at the Shell gas station next to the bridge). The entry is on the side of the building on Wayling, beside the garage door. Look for the notice on the door, and proceed into the basement.

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Everyone can benefit from it. Maybe you already use music as your therapy when you choose to go out and dance, or play a particular song on your listening device.

I apply the same principle…that music helps us to feel good…with training, experience and understanding. In my groups, I help you to use music, sound and music making strategically to help you when you feel stuck, or could benefit from taking an inward look so you can gain self-understanding and self-confidence.

Your loved ones can also benefit… do you know anyone with cancer or depression, or someone in crisis or experiencing some mid-life craziness? or family members with expressive challenges because of autism, developmental delays, or Alzheimers?

I am a registered psychotherapist and certified music therapist with twenty-five years experience.

Come learn more and experience a little of what it is all about.

Cost: $10

Evening Session: Monday, January 9, 2017  –  7:30-9:00pm

Afternoon Session: Monday, January 16, 2017 –  1-2:30pm

Location: Nectar Centre, 255 MacKay St., 3rd floor (follow the sounds upstairs)

Register now: phone 613-829-1556, or email: email hidden; JavaScript is required

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Welcome to

Musical Play 101

Music has several important elements and rhythm is one. The first sounds we hear in our mother’s womb are her heart beat, and her blood pulsing around her body.

The reassuring rocking of our parent’s arms as we were sung to sleep, relaxed and nourished us. Being bounced on Dad’s knee while he sang enlivened us and got us giggling. Maybe these were in short supply in your childhood. This is the right place to be.

Relaxed rhythmic breathing helps us center and tune in to ourselves.  Arrhythmic breathing correlates with stress. Come and breathe with us.

Rhythm is important in communication. In parts of traditional Africa, drums were used to transmit messages between villages. We can use them to communicate our feelings and relieve stress. Come and play with us.

Poetry, song, and story telling have a rhythm that engages us. In older traditions raftsmen and oarsmen sang as they paddled to keep in time together. Rhythmic music or poetry can sweep us up in drama, send us marching through unknown danger or coo and woo and tickle our funny bone. Come and play with words with us.

The stress of living the twenty-first century life sometimes takes us out of our comfort zone, out of the natural rhythms of life. Come tune into your natural rhythmic child, and come out of your closet.

We shall explore our breath, voices and some simple instruments as expressive tools, as rhythmic communicators, as music makers.

Dates: November 7 – December 12    6 Monday mornings 

Time: 10-11:30am

Cost: $110+ HST

Location: Nectar Centre – 3rd Floor, 255 MacKay, in New Edinburgh     www.NectarCentre.ca

To register: Phone: 613-829-1556

or email email hidden; JavaScript is required

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Our healing meditation and spiritual growth group offers an opportunity step back, focus on healing for yourself or others, and come together with like-minded people.

We shall use a range of techniques drawing from sound healing, music therapy and mindfulness practice, such as toning chakras, healing visualizations, prayer, singing mantras and songs, playing/listening to singing bowls. This is a good opportunity to relax, plug into your spiritual connection, support others and leave some of those worries behind.

This is an open group so you can come choose to come regularly, or come by for a single session. It is a great opportunity to come and meet me, and experience some of my work before engaging private services, or to connect with a healing and spiritually oriented group.

Dates:  November 14, 28, December 12
Cost:  Each session fee $15-25

RSVPs are appreciated

Location: Nectar Centre – 255 MacKay St, New Edinburgh; accessible by #9 bus and close to others along Beechwood (5,7). Street parking. We are on the third floor…climb to the top and turn right.

Registration: Contact Pamela by phone 613-829-1556 or email hidden; JavaScript is required

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6 Weeks – Starting Sept 19, Mornings

Do you feel shy or uncomfortable singing even in a group? You are not alone. Have you held the impression that you could not sing…or simply never had the opportunity to develop a confident relationship with singing?

The truth is that just about everyone can learn to sing. Come join us for an evening for beginners and budding vocalists. We’ll explore some of the reasons why blocks around singing have come up, address healing them, and play with our voices.

Come engage in some playful vocal exploration in a non-judgemental environment. We’ll explore some highs and lows of your vocal range, with games to help you to feel more at ease.

Feel More Comfortable with your Singing Voice

When: September 19 – October 31 (not Oct 10).  10-11:30 am

Where: Nectar Centre:  255 MacKay St., 3rd Floor (Buses are close by #9, and 7…on Beechwood)

Cost: $110 +HST

RSVP please – 613-829-1556 or email: email hidden; JavaScript is required   / email hidden; JavaScript is required

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Thursday, July 7 at 7:15 – My presentation on Healing with Music and Sound will be an experiential playtime. We’ll use our voices and some small instruments to open up and allow our inner children out for some fun. This is a great opportunity to explore what music therapy is all about. No

Instruments can help us to express our inner experience

experience is needed.

Location: Ottawa Citizen Building (behind Pinecrest Mall/ Ikea)

Cost: donation

More information: http://www.spiritualfrontiers.ca/SFC/index.html

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Hiding an inner musician in the closet? Get both of them out together…and let’s play and break open the music box and learn how it all works bit by bit.

Our Ukulele Class:

The focus is on learning to accompany yourself singing some familiar songs from the 40-70s, with all the chords, chord progressions and any theory you need. Bring your uke, sense of fun and a music stand if you have one.

If you are setting out to buy a ukulele, consider a tenor ukulele. It has more room for adult fingers.

Mondays 1-2pm, April 18 – June 27 (8 weeks) No class May 9, 23, June 13

Nectar Centre – Main floor, 255 MacKay St., Ottawa (New Edinburgh)

Cost:$120

To register: contact Pamela at 613-829-1556 or email hidden; JavaScript is required

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• for fun and community building
• to support the opening of your musical expression
• to sing songs that uplift and sustain you where you are now in your journey
• songs that help you connect with your inner being
• songs that have meaning in your life
• a song circle with heart and where healing can happen

Theme: “Coming Together – Songs for Connection”

How would you introduce yourself through a song? Would it be a song that comes from home – what ever that means for you, or communicates a value you cherish, or an activity you love?

How the Song Circle works:

Bring a song or two, on the theme of the month, – Making Connection this time. Choose a song which you can  sing solo, ask the group to sing together, have the group join on the refrain, or ask another person to lead. If you have a poem, that’s great, too, but please keep it to around 4-5 minutes per slot. You may also pass when your time comes.

If the group is to sing it together, it is best to bring along copies of lyrics. Many song lyrics can be found on-line by typing the name of the song and lyrics. Or books like Rise Up Singing have lyrics to many familiar songs. It’s a great resource.

Respect and understanding. One person’s song choice may not be another person’s favorite song or style, but may have special meaning for the person choosing it. One person’s story may touch another in a challenging way. Please be open to growing and allow for differing taste.

You are welcome to bring an instrument to accompany yourself. Others may chose to sing a capella (without accompaniment) or request musical accompaniment from Pamela and/or another member of the group. Contacting Pamela in advance if you know you want her to accompany may be helpful if it is not a really familiar song.

We all are on our journeys and in unique places along the road. Supporting each other can be a lifeline. Music has a tremendous power to heal, with intention and support.

Pamela is available to accompany on the guitar and provide support.

If time allows, people may be able to request two songs. Feel free to come prepared.

Date: Friday, May 6:  7-9pm

Cost: Sliding scale: $10-20

Location: TBA. This location is accessible for wheelchairs. Check back and/or RSVP to be notified. RSVPs are appreciated.

Please RSVP: Pamela Holm   613-829-1556

or email: email hidden; JavaScript is required

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