Interview with Jennifer Buchanan, Founder, JB Music Therapy Inc., Canada

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CONVERSATION HIGHLIGHTS:

Sound Waves of Impact: Jennifer Buchanan, founder of JB Music Therapy’s Musical Mission

Join me, Suzanne F. Stevens, on the YouMeWe Amplified Podcast as we sit down with Jennifer Buchanan, the founder of JB Music Therapy. In this episode, you will uncover the profound impact of music therapy on mental health, emotional well-being, and social connections. Learn about Jennifer’s inspiring journey over 33 years, from the early challenges to achieving significant breakthroughs in hospitals, schools, and communities. You’ll discover practical insights on how music therapy aids in learning for children, supports mental health, and benefits the elderly, particularly those in long-term care. Jennifer also shares her innovative vision for the future, including creating a scholarship for music therapy students. Plus, get motivated by her advice on collaboration, entrepreneurial spirit, and making a conscious contribution to society. Don’t miss this powerful conversation that will empower and inspire you to make a social impact through the healing power of music.

00:00 Introduction to YouMeWe Amplified Podcast

00:37 Meet Jennifer Buchanan of JB Music Therapy

02:01 The Beginnings of JB Music Therapy

05:04 Music Therapy for Children

09:05 Music Therapy and Mental Health

15:13 Music Therapy in Acute Medical Settings

18:52 Music Therapy for the Elderly

25:07 Inclusion Through Music Therapy

29:45 The Power of Music and Memory

32:01 The Impact of Music Therapy

33:55 Pioneering a Profession

35:29 Reflecting on Personal and Professional Growth

40:21 The Importance of Contribution

47:14 Rapid Fire Questions

53:44 Final Thoughts and Words of Wisdom

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Learn more or buy the book Make Your Contribution Count for you • me • we

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Interview with Jennifer Buchanan, Founder, JB Music Therapy Inc.; Canada

Jennifer Buchanan, MBA, MTA, is a dedicated music therapist, keynote speaker, and best-selling author. With over three decades leading JB Music Therapy, she has helped launch numerous music therapy programs across Canada. Her award-winning company is the largest employer of Certified Music Therapists in the country, serving clients of all ages in medical, educational, and community care settings. Jennifer served as President and Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Music Therapists and now holds a Director position at the National Music Centre (NMC), where she shares her knowledge about the power of music in health, wellness, and recovery. She collaborates with corporations, healthcare institutions, and law enforcement agencies to expand the reach of music therapy. Her book, "Wellness, Wellplayed: The Power of a Playlist," explores how purposeful playlists can bridge to deeper aspects of ourselves and address our human need to feel, create, and connect. Media outlets like The Guardian, The Globe and Mail, and The Huffington Post have featured her work. Jennifer combines her passion for music therapy with her business skills to support a cause she deeply believes in. Her most significant personal achievement is learning to swim at age 36, and her professional community has recognized her with various awards and accolades.

United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal(s) addressed:
#3. Good Health and Well-being, #4. Quality Education, #9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, #10. Reduced Inequalities, #17. Partnerships for the Goals

Social impact:
JB Music Therapy (JBMT) significantly enhances the quality of life for individuals across diverse settings, including hospitals, schools, and community programs. JBMT fosters emotional well-being, cognitive stimulation, and social connection by providing specialized music therapy services. Our work supports individuals with various needs, including mental health challenges, neurological conditions, and developmental disorders. The transformative power of music therapy promotes healing, improves life skills, and builds resilience, contributing to healthier and more inclusive communities.

Website: https://jbmusictherapy.com/

Jennifer Buchanan, Founder, JB Music Therapy, Canada

Note: This conversation is transcribed using AI software, which means the transcription is not perfect. Watch the video or listen to the podcast to hear our guest’s wisdom in her own words. If you want to see more interviews like this, please comment below!

To learn about Wave Makers International, read Suzanne’s book Make Your Contribution Count for You, Me, and We. 

Introduction to YouMeWe Amplified Podcast

[00:00:00] Suzanne F Stevens: Welcome to YouMeWe Amplified Podcast, where we have conversations with sheSocial Impact Leaders addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These leaders are transforming where we live and work with sustainable social solutions.

Hello, I’m Suzanne F. Stevens, the Wave•maker at YouMeWe Social Impact Group. I’m an international speaker, author, community builder, and a multi award winning social entrepreneur. And yes, you guessed it, your host for YouMeWe Amplified Podcast.

Meet Jennifer Buchanan of JB Music Therapy

[00:00:32] Suzanne F Stevens: Today we are having a conversation with Jennifer Buchanan, founder of JB Music Therapy. JB Music Therapy significantly enhances the quality of life for individuals across diverse settings, including hospitals, schools, and community programs. JB Musical Therapy fosters emotional well-being, and we need a lot of that right now, cognitive stimulation, and social connection by providing specialized music

Therapy Services. All the way from Alberta, Canada, please welcome Jennifer Buchanan.

Thanks for having me. Great to have you. And I don’t think I’ve had the honor of interviewing somebody in the last couple of years who’s been in business for 33 years. So we’re going to dive into that in a little bit because longevity

is a tough game as an entrepreneur.

So kudos to you.

[00:01:34] Jennifer Buchanan: Thank you.

[00:01:35] Suzanne F Stevens: N

The Beginnings of JB Music Therapy

[00:01:35] Suzanne F Stevens: ow, going back 33 years, I’m sure you remember when.

[00:01:38] Jennifer Buchanan: Yeah.

[00:01:40] Suzanne F Stevens: What was the catalyst for you starting JB Music Therapy?

[00:01:44] Jennifer Buchanan: Wow. Yeah, you’re right. First of all, just even bringing up the longevity of it. And I know we’re going to go there because I’ve really been feeling it. The last three years in our particular. And so reflecting on the past has been really important. Because it does remind us, why are we doing this.

And realigning with that original mission that really hasn’t changed that much. When I graduated from university with my music therapy degree, there were no jobs. It’s not like they were advertising music therapists. I was number 133 in Canada. Anything that was available was already taken, but the need was so strong.

We had community where people are still having strokes, people have dementia. This was before the MRI machine, so we hadn’t really even seen the benefits of music at the neuroscience level. But we were certainly witnessing it in that anecdotal way where you would go to the bedside of someone in a hospital or a care center, and you would see someone who otherwise couldn’t speak, begin to speak.

Someone who was having a hard time walking, improve their gait. Someone who was feeling massively depressed and not motivated to move forward in their life, all of a sudden feeling like they had a lifeline and being able to share that. So we knew this music thing had a bigger role than entertainment or something to learn at home or to share with friends, which is also important.

But it had this greater peace to helping people with their health, their recovery, their learning, as well as their personal wellness. And so where I started was school, seeing a granddad who wasn’t able to walk or talk, all of a sudden crying, singing, listening in a whole new way while he was in the hospital for the remainder of his life, in that case.

And then seeing some of the little humans that I got to meet along the way, where they were having such a hard time learning and learning new concepts, and music was able to really help them. The beginnings were, broad from the littles all the way to the elders. And, it began from there.

And why 33 years? Because I’m still learning a whole bunch of stuff. And there’s still so much more to do. And the science now is catching up to what we saw anecdotally. So, it’s exciting to be able to get that quantifiable data coming right at us at this time it’s a great time to be around music and health.

Music Therapy for Children

[00:04:38] Suzanne F Stevens: So let’s talk about the littles, as you mentioned, how does this assist with them learning music?

[00:04:45] Jennifer Buchanan: ,we talk a lot around how kids have different learning needs. And we know some kids go in and the whole curriculum and the way school is structured just makes sense. And so they’re able to succeed and feel connected to their peers and feel connected to the curriculum. But we know now that’s just not the case for a lot of kids who are dealing with their own anxieties or maybe different ways that they learn.

And so, one of the best things that I feel music therapists are doing on the ground is reinforcing the strengths of those young kids, whatever that may be. And so that could be where if they’re having a hard time reading, and we remember learning the ABCs, it would have been really hard to remember all the ABCs if the song didn’t go with it.

That’s exactly how this works. What sort of music can we bring in to help with the reading to help with the learning. But it’s also at a very basic level too. Some of us feel a bit wobbly. Maybe our balance isn’t quite the same as other kids or, maybe we don’t have that strong sense of rhythm and connection to our own bodies.

Going through certain music exercises with a music therapist begins to entrain us into that very specific rhythm. Of course, as music therapists, we’re often invited to work with our students that have specialized learning challenges, learning needs. and that has had so many iterations over the course of my career from, cognitive disabilities to special needs to exceptional needs.

There’s been so much terms over the last three decades, but ultimately it’s working with that kid so they can feel the most successful that they could feel. And there’s so many different ways to write a song. Hence, writing some poetry. There’s so many different ways to make music, verbally or not verbally.

There’s so many different ways to feel connected to your peer group through music, even if you are the perceived different one. All of a sudden, you’re all the same. So, it’s an incredibly equitable experience, this music that can bring kids together.

[00:07:13] Suzanne F Stevens: I love, everything you just said. And I just had the strangest experience as you were speaking, Jennifer, thinking, when you related it to the ABCs, now I cannot sing. I am, I was Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, I will say in grade seven.

And I did sing. I shouldn’t have, but I did.

[00:07:37] Jennifer Buchanan: Good for you.

That being said, I was challenged when I was a kid learning. And I do, though, know how to dance, like I have good beat. And it just occurred to me that maybe music would have made learning easier for me. Now, I’m not an extreme case, I know, but just because I do love drums, I do love beat. Right?

[00:08:05] Suzanne F Stevens: I just thought, I wonder if that would have helped me.

[00:08:08] Jennifer Buchanan: Yes. And I think where the music therapist, so the human relationship piece, which is at the essence where therapy is at, is having this relationship with someone else, that person, then, would bring this hidden gem of a resource that you hadn’t thought about in that particular way, or the teacher hadn’t thought about it, the parent or the child hadn’t experienced it in that way, to give that unique opportunity to go, How about this?

Music Therapy and Mental Health

[00:08:39] Jennifer Buchanan: So, let’s talk about, in particular, mental health

[00:08:43] Suzanne F Stevens: challenges, because as we know,

this is so huge among youth.

How does music therapy help people with mental health and where do you find those individuals so that you can help.

[00:08:56] Jennifer Buchanan: Very good. This is again, a huge domain. So I’m gonna comeat this one from some recent experiences. um, because people are feeling locked up so they know something isn’t feeling quite right,

but they’re having a hard time expressing it. And we’ve all felt that at a certain time. Youth going through difficult times, it’s not that the feelings aren’t there. The feelings are incredibly strong, but they can clutter the word sharing of what all those feelings are.

And again, I’m sure we can all feel that at some level. So what happens when we start unraveling the feelings through music. This could be as simple as asking a question, what music have you been drawn to lately? Which sounds just so incredibly simple. When we begin to delve into that and say, anyone who’s listening to the podcast right now, think about the music you’ve been drawn to lately, because it is quite interesting.

I didn’t ask you why, I just asked what it was. And you can start having that music play through your mind. there might be certain qualities to that music. It might have qualities of, being comforting, it could be incredibly energetic, it might feel really nostalgic,so you’re gonna start thinking about all the music you listen to and then put three adjectives, three descriptive words to that, just for fun.

Some of my youth may say, relaxing, soothing, calming, they might be very similar there. Some might say, really creative, quirky, and something else. So whatever those three words are. And then where the therapy comes in is because we know through science that music is so deeply personal and what you’re drawn to and what you are calling to you.

Not what’s just showing up at the mall, but what you’re actually taking moments to go out and find and fuel yourself with that music. So incredibly personal. Is it possible that those three words you use to describe your music also describe you? Is it possible? And that’s the beginning of the conversation.

Because if that’s not true, is it what you aspire to be? And if that’s not true, is it something that we need to dig a little deeper about? Because it’s coming from somewhere, and how connected it is to you personally, or perhaps you’re not feeling connected to yourself at all. So, this would be the beginning of that conversation as just one.

intervention of what we can do with music to find out more about that youth. Through this all, because we’re talking about something that so many of us have a connection to and already have a relationship to, it means they can have a relationship with me a little bit quicker than maybe other people, because now we’re connecting on music.

And hopefully over the next 3, 4, 6, 12 sessions that we have together exploring music, but also exploring exactly who they are and what their aspirations are and where they want to go. And putting together music and improvising together and having a couple of drums and like you’re saying, maybe even moving around the room.

We can explore ourselves and our possibilities in a whole new way. We can do it through the music.

[00:12:49] Suzanne F Stevens: I’m dying a little bit in here because I came up with one of my three words was easy, meaning I don’t select my own music. Whatever shows up in my life. Although I know what I’d like, but I just don’t take the time. So I’m like easy. That’s my aspiration. Either I’m easy or I want to be easy.

[00:13:11] Jennifer Buchanan: Right? And ease in life is a real thing, especially when you’re a busy professional and we’re trying to run these businesses that we’re doing. We want it to be easily assimilated, and to have an effect really quick. It’s so entrepreneurial.

[00:13:29] Suzanne F Stevens: I’m glad that’s the way you took it.

 Now I understand the therapy.

[00:13:34] Jennifer Buchanan: You’re using music, but you’re also playing music

[00:13:38] Suzanne F Stevens: And does that person need to know how to play

music or are you teaching them? (START)

[00:13:43] Jennifer Buchanan: Yeah, there is absolutely no, you don’t even have to have lots of music background for this to be effective. It, is just one of the components of being human. There’s no place in the world where music doesn’t exist. Everywhere that society is at one point was the first beating drum and the first harmony and the first bone flute, like all around the world.

We all started here, it’s in our DNA. And because of the way that it draws out our creativity, our warmth and our kindness and all those things that music can do as well as feeling like incredibly connected to other human beings, it’s just so human. And so I feel that by using it, we’re able to accomplish this, like through nonverbal therapy is what we’re essentially doing, but it’s music therapy.

We’re able to tap into those parts. When I was saying drawing out the strengths of people, it’s drawing out their creativity, it’s drawing out their warmth and their kindness, but also that they can feel whole in some way.

Music Therapy in Acute Medical Settings

[00:14:47] Jennifer Buchanan: Another population group that,we work with is,very acute medical.

So we’ll be working with stroke and,brain injury. We’re on the burns unit where someone has been significantly burned. And,ICU. So we’re in highly medical units. And in those units, their lives have transformed quickly. into something they weren’t expecting. And that’s a shock to our entire nervous system, to who we are.

Being and living in a hospital for some people for months. If you’ve ever visited someone in the hospital over three days, it feels like three months. So imagine being there for three months or three years in some cases, or having to go back repeatedly for treatments. Being able to maintain your level of motivation and sense of self is often difficult.

Music therapists are called in frequently as an adjunct to all the other allied health working with physios OTs and speech language. One of the roles we tend to have is on the motivation side because someone doesn’t want to go to physio or OT or do speech.

And so we can get them back to feeling strong, emotionally strong, very quickly. Sure, we can also get them to move their bodies and to play a drum and to work on the affected side that the stroke has caused. Like we do that as well, but there’s music naturally seems to really release this level of motivation for people and that’s just helping them to continue with this bigger program that we need in order for us to fully recover so we can get back to our best lives in this new way that we didn’t know ourselves.

And music reminds these people, whoever they will be, who they are at their core. And that part never changed. This physical thing that has happened to you, this car accident, this stroke, this burn, has nothing to do with who you are as a person and music reminds them of that. Nothing is actually more efficient or effective to remind them of that than that music that matters to them the most.

[00:17:10] Suzanne F Stevens: I already mentioned, I do like the bongos.

 I wanted to learn how to play them. I need to find somewhere where I can just go out in a drumming circle, just feel that sort of heartbeat.

[00:17:22] Jennifer Buchanan: We know scientifically it releases all the hormones we need to feel better. It’s going to release more dopamine, more oxytocin so we feel connected. It’s going to release serotonin so our moods more regulated and decrease our cortisol.

We also know that it’s going to add more oxygen to the Brain when we’re dancing, when we’re singing, when we’re playing, cause it’s exercise. And then what that leads into is when we’re going into something like painting, all those hormones, neurotransmitters, all the things that we have just now given a boost to, immediately apply to that creativity, that humanness, that warmth, that focus, all the things required to do that other activity,

So yes, we can enter into music and just focus on that. But just like the person then having to go to physio, it can also be a springboard into that other thing that you really want and dream to do. It can be a sure friend accompanying you along the way. Your personal soundtrack.

Music Therapy for the Elderly

[00:18:26] Suzanne F Stevens: There are two other groups I do want to mention, and one of them is the elderly.

And with our aging population, is there opportunity for group therapy? I believe you do some group therapy, do you not? Are you finding That group therapy for elderly, is there a draw to that, number one, and what benefits beyond what you’ve talked about with other groups that they may appreciate, or is there anything different?

[00:19:00] Jennifer Buchanan: Recently had the opportunity to speak to the, Minister of Mental Health, we were also talking about the mental health and well being of elders. When we talk mental health, we’re often speaking adults youth and kids. Once people are in long term care or continuing care settings,everything’s just so jumbled up, and we’re not necessarily focused on that mental health and well-being. And I was mentioning to him, what if there was a mechanism where someone could go in with the skills required to play music in a certain way, the right music at the right time in the right way? And people within this continuing care setting who typically would have their heads back and their mouths open, or they’re lying in bed and the TV was just blaring and they couldn’t turn it off because they didn’t have the capacity to do that themselves.

What if all of a sudden all those people were in a circle and music was being made? Their lifted up and several were singing every word, even those who normally scream every word. And then there’s others that are just listening and now instead of their head back and their mouth open, they just have their eyes lightly closed as they’re listening.

What would happen if we had a therapy that was able to do that for a full 45 minutes of engagement where nothing in this community engaged eight people for 45 minutes. But not only that, the staff, the frontline staff who are working so hard and feeling burned out and absolutely exhausted, what would happen if all of a sudden they had a feeling of lift because of this incredible mechanism and this way that this music was happening?

And they were able to do a little more whistle while they work, and then what would happen if the evidence showed that those effects that happened in that 45 minutes could last another 20 minutes even after it stopped, and sometimes up to an hour or two afterwards. What would happen if we had something like that that would cost a fraction of the price of any pharmaceutical for all those eight people in that group that would help with any of the burnout percentages for the others?

[00:21:43] Suzanne F Stevens: What would happen if we just had that? Every day, every three hours, at all our continuing care sites, how much money would we be able to save? And I saw one stat that in the States they think it could save something like 6. 3 billion dollars. what did the minister say to

that?

[00:22:03] Jennifer Buchanan: Right?he said that is probably one of the most innovative, things I have ever heard. Now, to be fair, I have sent him a follow up email and I have not heard back. I’m not calling out his name right now, but I plan to send another email,

In the United States, they have it a part of the,it’s called the old age pensioners policy. So music therapy has to be in every long term care in the United States.

We don’t have anything like that. I feel we’re denying them of something that can do exactly what you just said. Bring people together in community, in small groups, And then offer these incredible outstanding effects. I could almost cry right now because I’ve got all of these people in my head.

And it’s, aging sucks. And continuing care, no matter how pretty we make a place or how much we put beautiful paintings on a wall, it sucks. And it’s awful being away from home. And your family’s not visiting you every day, I’m telling you that. It is really lonely, so if we know that music can reduce isolation and can help with the loneliness and bring people together and help us with our neurotransmitters and hormones and help us feel stronger than we ever have and remind us that we’re a human being amongst this moment where the world doesn’t see us quite that way anymore, Yeah, that’s what I want to do.

Anyways, thank you for letting me sell all that. Thanks.

[00:23:41] Suzanne F Stevens: I am so glad I asked the question. That’s an incredible initiative and whatever I can do. People need to be aware of that and you articulated it so well during this podcast that I think it’s a really important message that like, I’ve got shivers from my toes to my head and they’ll be just going up and down because it was so powerful what you were saying. And I, know quite a bit about the science positivity and I focus on contribution to society and how that gets all the neurons going happy and crazy. And I can understand that with music, which kind of leads to an area that you suggested at the beginning Inclusion. And I listen to live music all the time.

I Love it. it’s my happy place.

[00:24:30] Jennifer Buchanan: Yeah.

[00:24:31] Suzanne F Stevens: beer, live music, and if I can get up and dance, I am in utopia.

[00:24:36] Jennifer Buchanan: Whisky for me, Suzanne,

[00:24:39] Suzanne F Stevens:

Inclusion Through Music Therapy

[00:24:41] Suzanne F Stevens: Have you done much exploration or have music therapists done much exploration in inclusive environments?

[00:24:48] Jennifer Buchanan: Yeah. There’s so many ways to look at what is inclusion, right? But I immediately go,generational for me,because I feel one of the connectors that will benefit all of society are the young and the elders connecting and learning from one another.

 The kids and the grandkids are coming to visit, somebody or your parent or your grandparent are coming to visit you while you’re in the hospital,

this opportunity of having an inclusive experience that otherwise can feel really awkward. Visiting people in these settings is really awkward. And palliative care is another area. So the person’s dying and family’s coming to visit, nobody knows what to say to the person who is dying. It’s amazing how making live music, which sounds Really, you do that?

Really, we do that. Live music in the palliative care room with the grandchildren, the children, the person who is in an active state of going to the other side and making music together, has been an incredibly powerful tool to create those inclusive memories that now different generations are going to remember.

And for the little guys, it gives a positive memory with that grandparent, even at the end stage, when that end stage is very scary for a little person to see. So, I just immediately went there when you were talking about an inclusive experience, because,those are extreme scenarios.

[00:26:31] Suzanne F Stevens: I love it and I understand it.

[00:26:33] Jennifer Buchanan: Yeah.

[00:26:34] Suzanne F Stevens: And I recently had a personal experience with it.

[00:26:37] Jennifer Buchanan: Wow.

[00:26:38] Suzanne F Stevens: My mother invited me to go to a 50s and 60s music event last Thursday. Now, I’m not gonna lie, I was not excited. When she invited me, she started into, Suzanne, I thought maybe you would enjoy learning about me and what I like. I said, mom stop.. I didn’t say no.

Right.

I just paused.

[00:27:05] Jennifer Buchanan: you also didn’t run out and get a poodle skirt.

[00:27:08] Suzanne F Stevens: I didn’t know it, but I said, no, I’ll go with you because it was a bit of a

drive to get there too and back and stuff.

And I said, I will go with you. She goes, no, I’m buying the tickets. I said, oh yes, you are. I’m not going to for 50s and 60s either. However, when we went.

[00:27:27] Jennifer Buchanan: It was fantastic.And my husband said to me, the 60s Led Zeppelin played, I wonder if they’d have them. I said, doubt they’ll have Led Zeppelin play.

[00:27:38] Suzanne F Stevens: Sure enough, they did. They had everything. From it through the fifties and the sixties and the talent was extraordinary. But I knew every single song except one. And my mother knew every single

song except one. And that happened to be Led Zeppelin’s. But after she said, did you like it? I said, Mom, I loved it.

I had so much fun. And just spending time on music that she cared about, that were her childhood favorites, my mom can’t sing either by the way, bopping along, singing away, it gave me joy just to watch her, because I know if she did that with my deceased father, he would have told her, stop singing.

[00:28:28] Jennifer Buchanan: Yeah.

[00:28:29] Suzanne F Stevens: Now my mother would have told him to shut up, we find our voice in time, right? But the point being, just those moments of appreciating, a woman that’s 80, I better get this right, just in case she wasn’t 83.

[00:28:42] Jennifer Buchanan: Yeah.

[00:28:44] Suzanne F Stevens: I appreciate what you’re saying too. that would be so powerful for generations.

[00:28:51] Jennifer Buchanan: Yeah. I, I’m gonna, just a couple of little things to your story as well. I know that we’re saying, Oh, I don’t sing or I can’t sing. And again, if we go back into our DNA, It really was only about 550 years ago we separated the performers on a stage and an audience. Up till then it really was all community music making.

A lot of it is we’re just not practiced. W

The Power of Music and Memory

[00:29:19] Jennifer Buchanan: e’re not doing it enough because we’re leaving it up to performers. So I like encouraging people, that I get it, when you just don’t feel strong singing, I have to say I’ve taken summers off not singing. I go back to it in the fall and I’m not as good as I was prior to the summer.

There is some muscle memory in regards to just doing it a little more. And I like to encourage people to do that. But this concept of bringing together, generations,you may never fully realize the gift you gave your mom. She may not be able to express the depth of that to you.

I’m sure she said thank you and all that, but I am certain at 83, that will probably go down as one of the greatest visits of her life with you, that she loved, and now she will remember that, and it’s really powerful. We can’t underestimate how much that music anchors a moment in a way that no other. Just like the reason we remember Led Zeppelin is because we remember the basement that we were at, the rumpus room is what we called it in the velour couch.

I can remember it at my friend Jeanette Kane’s house with the vinyl next to us playing, and there was a shuffleboard there that occasionally we’d get up and play. I can smell that rumpus room. And so how it can anchor those memories. Now it’s just how can we leverage that power into providing, new ways for us to develop ourselves and our own wellness and our own well being, be it feeling more included, connected,mentally well,overall healthy, regardless of where we are at whatever stage of life we’re in.

[00:31:08] Suzanne F Stevens: Thank you for that. I’ll admit when I did go to Led Zeppelin concert, I don’t like Led Zeppelin. I fell asleep.

[00:31:20] Jennifer Buchanan: It’s okay. They’re good for that.

[00:31:22] Suzanne F Stevens: And that was the moment my husband will never forget.

[00:31:25] Jennifer Buchanan: Okay. That is so fun. I know someone who fell asleep during, Billy Idol.

[00:31:30] Suzanne F Stevens:

[00:31:30] Jennifer Buchanan: It’s, it depends on what your thing is.

[00:31:33] Suzanne F Stevens: It’s not my thing.

The Impact of Music Therapy

[00:31:35] Suzanne F Stevens: Can somebody go to their, general practitioner or physician and ask to be prescribed music therapy?

[00:31:42] Jennifer Buchanan: Okay, so this is, when I’m talking about my dreams before I die speech, one is that music therapy becomes socially prescribed. I definitely want that. My own doctor, has stacks of my books when I give them to her because I want her to pass them out to people.

I want her to be talking about putting together a playlist to match the mood that you’re needing, that you are hoping to have. So I want more doctors to be doing those sorts of things. We’re in the very beginning stages right now of putting together a workflow app, on using music.

It’s not just listening to playlists. It’s not like deciding what mood you want off Spotify and exploring that way, but it’s actually taking you through a workflow where there’s a little mini assessment, identifying exactly what you’re needing and then helping you determine the music. you need for that moment.

And as we develop that, I want entire health authorities to be promoting, how useful tools like that can be. We’re doing research right now at the Foothills Medical Center, using an app out of France that’s an induction for people who are in pain or facing extreme anxiety. So, it starts you at a certain beat per minute and it brings you down and then it has an awakening.

And of the thousand people we’ve researched to date, it is showing a 35 percent decrease in pain and anxiety in patients that are in the hospital. So yes, Social prescriptions for all. That’s exactly what I want to happen.

Pioneering a Profession

[00:33:29] Suzanne F Stevens: You’ve accomplished so much in these 33 years, but I know that you’re at a pivotal

place in your business right now. Tell us what you’re going to do differently and why?

[00:33:40] Jennifer Buchanan: Even though my company’s so old or it feels like when we say 33 years, it’s feeling so old, but I feel we’ve just left adolescence. Like it took us a long time to get here because we’ve been trailblazing, a profession. we’ve been a part of the trailblazing team across Canada that is getting this profession out there, and it’s just taken a long time to do that piece, but we’re close now to move into adulthood.

[00:34:11] Suzanne F Stevens: I also joke, so I said I was 55, I also joke that I think I now get like, what is it, 15 percent off at the drugstores? Like, I think that’s where we are at. That’s where I’m going after this!

[00:34:23] Jennifer Buchanan: Right? 15 percent off. so I’m recognizing all these things coming together. I also recognize that I can get tired and I feel that wheel of, oh my gosh, we’ve done this before I want to make a giant leap, whereas we’ve made half a step, towards something.

But over these last five years, COVID was not bad for me. it was terrible for my clients. But COVID was not terrible for me to have a moment and take time to reflect on my entire business. S

Reflecting on Personal and Professional Growth

[00:35:03] Jennifer Buchanan: o yes, we offer music therapy. We also do online group programs to reach rural and national people that can’t access music therapy.

We also do presentations and training. We work with frontline staff, but we also work with corporations in order to determine how they can maximize using music for things like focus and productivity. But we never had the time to really dig into all those things and what’s the next elevated piece we can offer as a company.

And like probably most of the people you interview say, it’s this moment where you find the right partners. It’s the moment when you got the right who’s. I just got goosebumps because I spent probably the first 20 years of my career thinking I had to do it by myself because if I asked for too much help, then I’m asking for help and I don’t want to be a burden.

I need to figure it out on myself and I went and I got my MBA in social entrepreneurship so I could start using the language and start speaking the speak and, all that was wonderful. And I learned a lot, but until I really saturated myself with the right who’s, nothing was really going to move.

I’ve been very fortunate to now partner with, people that want to fund music therapy, and they have started very specific funds to help us move forward in our initiative. Here in Calgary, there is, the National Music Center, which if you’re ever in town, please come and I want to take you on a tour of this architecturally magnificent design that is so beautiful, aesthetically.

And, one of their exhibits is music and wellness where music therapy is featured in this entire exhibit at the National Music Center and so they’re sharing the word in their way. Now there’s funding to help for us to consult, so we can help grow music therapy in other provinces where there just hasn’t been as strong of a music therapy presence, because we’ve been very privileged with all their support.

So now we’re helping garner more support for others in their communities and areas. Where we’re going now more growth, more access for these littles and elders that we’re talking about, more working with partners, and more helping that there’s stories left behind and evidence where people are using music 5, 10, 15 percent more intentionally every day and feeling better because of it.

[00:37:53] Suzanne F Stevens: Now, with some of those relationships that you’ve established, we need the why’s to get to the who’s.

[00:37:59] Jennifer Buchanan: Totally.

[00:38:00] Suzanne F Stevens: And the who’s to the hows.

[00:38:03] Jennifer Buchanan: Right.

[00:38:03] Suzanne F Stevens: And, did one of those individuals, give you connection with the minister, or how did you get that connection?

[00:38:10] Jennifer Buchanan: Yes. That’s exactly how this works. Like, you know, me just, right. Thank you. and it wasn’t even a direct to, it was a who, to a who, to a who, and then you’re there, but you’re all connected at the end of it, recognizing that there’s only so much I can do internally going outward. It’s about letting the world come into you as well and what you’re providing.

I used to feel different where, I thought, Oh, if someone’s helping me, it means some how I just didn’t do a good enough job or I missed that part. You missed that part because you were doing 57 other things and that wasn’t the part you have to remember.

That’s why this person’s in your life. And I’m like, Oh, that’s how this works.

I love collaborating.

[00:39:00] Suzanne F Stevens: I’m a huge advocate of collaboration, but I’m also a realist.

[00:39:04] Jennifer Buchanan: And I would say that your 20 years of trailblazing an industry that really, barely existed, gave you the cachet for people to want to collaborate.

Thank you.

[00:39:23] Suzanne F Stevens: It’s very difficult in my experience to ask people to collaborate when they don’t feel you either have enough to offer or you can’t serve them. So as much as collaboration appears to be a we, it does still start with me.

That seems to be my experience personally, as well as in chatting with the, hundreds of interviews I’ve done. So, you needed those 20 years, unfortunately.

[00:39:51] Jennifer Buchanan: I appreciate that.

[00:39:52] Suzanne F Stevens: Right time with the right message

[00:39:54] Jennifer Buchanan: Feeling it right now.

The Importance of Contribution

[00:39:55] Suzanne F Stevens: So one of the things that, we had talked offline about, and I wanted to bring it into our interview, is contribute to, financially Or through free services or some way to a social initiative in addition to actually having a social enterprise, which is often very common, by the way, which is what I do too.

I have my social initiative that’s part of my business, but then I also contribute to my foundation over here.

[00:40:24] Jennifer Buchanan: Yes.

[00:40:25] Suzanne F Stevens: Can you share what you’re thinking about doing and why now that’s important?

[00:40:29] Jennifer Buchanan: And this was so interesting because, again, I am sure so many people listening right now can relate to this when you are pioneering, trailblazing, doing these things, we also do a lot of volunteer along the way, and we also do a lot of contribution, a lot, and we sit on boards, and we learn things, and I was no different.

So I was, reading a particular book that, I hadn’t read for three years. So, I was really into this book because it was like, Oh my gosh, reading. I forgot how much I enjoy that. And so, I was reading this book and one of the areas it was talking about was just how important it is to include within your Planning the contribution piece and I’ve always known that and when we’re talking about social enterprise we know that it is like our triple bottom line, like contributing is really important.

[00:41:27] Suzanne F Stevens: People, planet, profit for our audience.

[00:41:30] Jennifer Buchanan: Exactly. And so, when I was reading this I went, oh, I don’t want to do that anymore. That was my first reaction. I don’t need to contribute. I’ve been contributing for over three decades. I’ve done my part. And I can remember thinking that. And so, I finished reading the book and then over the next five months, it bugged me.

It bugged me that I felt that way, but I couldn’t find a way to feel different. Ah, you’re gonna make me cry because then I had a moment, where I, you know how pictures show up on your phone like past memories? So I had a past memory and it was an old photo that I had actually put into my phone, which was me in university pre-computer, pre all those things. And I can remember, I couldn’t afford living close to the university that had the music therapy program. So I had to commute up to two hours a day just to get there. And because it was in Vancouver,

the road was so slow and you were always in traffic so you could study at the same time. You could have your book out on the dash and study and go to school. Two hours. And I can remember by the time I got to school I was exhausted. And I had to then drive home and then I had to work many nights because I couldn’t afford school.

I was having a hard time affording school and, I can remember, I was in the music therapy program and you have to understand that, I own, a very large private practice of music therapists. I’ve been president of our national org twice. I was the inaugural executive director of our national org.

In addition to running my business. So, I have done things within my domain. But during that time, I was called into the teacher’s office, and I can remember they suggested that I resign from the program. See, I could cry. Because I just didn’t seem as invested in it. And it had nothing to do with that.

It’s because I had to commute two hours. I had to work. I couldn’t afford proper nutrition. I never had time to exercise. I really struggled affording school. I had a single mom. She had done three jobs. I had to get some loans. They were at 14 percent interest, 13 and a half or something.

All this to say I had that flashback in a moment looking at that photo of us, our young person. Remember our little young people? I realized that now I have an opportunity to give back there. So we are creating this year, so I can adhere to my contribution still. Because it was bugging me, I couldn’t figure out something.

And we’re going to come up with a bursary. scholarship for fourth year students in one of the music therapy programs. We’re just putting together the details right now and what’s really exciting, I’m not going to do it by myself. This is going to be a team approach. I’ve got the most beautiful team, from people who are interning with us right now who are fresh out of university and interning all the way to being with the company for 25 and a half years. So, we’re all going to get together and figure out something beautiful and we’re going to implement it for this coming spring. So it’s going to happen very quickly.

[00:45:13] Suzanne F Stevens: And that’s fabulous. I’m very happy to hear that. And because we’re running out of time, I’m going to go to rapid fire, but I do want to just add in regards to that, when you’re talking about the book. Because my book talks a lot about how to

contribute as an entrepreneur as well.

If you want to attract, retain your employees and get them inspired to contribute to something bigger than themselves, they’re feeling purpose beyond the purpose of their work.

Even though we think what you’re, like, not we collectively, but you are doing something pretty profound. And I’m not suggesting this, but sometimes there’s doctors that do something pretty profound, but they’re just doctors that are,checking in and out. Teachers, same thing. Because they’re not connected to what

it pays them well and their livelihood, but when you contribute to something else, everybody can get involved in.

[00:46:10] Jennifer Buchanan: Yeah.

[00:46:11] Suzanne F Stevens: It also makes them feel part of not only your organization’s doing something bigger, but also you’re going that extra step to empower. And it’s the perfect one for you, by the way, I think, because therapists are there now?

[00:46:25] Jennifer Buchanan: Yeah, so we’re about 10 times that size. So we’re at

about 1, 200, but we need so many more if we’re going to be fulfilling the mission of in every continuing care site in all of Canada.

[00:46:37] Suzanne F Stevens: Exactly what I was going to say. You’re going to need more when the minister gets back to you and says yes, Jennifer.

[00:46:46] Jennifer Buchanan: Yes.

[00:46:46] Jennifer Buchanan: All right. I’m ready.

Rapid Fire Questions

[00:46:48] Suzanne F Stevens: Now these are really about for the audience to get to know you a little better, okay? So, what do you think is the most significant thing citizens can do to uplift people with mental health challenges or neurological conditions or development disorders? One thing citizens can do.

Say hello to somebody. What is one thing you wish you knew prior to engaging down this contribution path?

[00:47:14] Jennifer Buchanan: I was able to capture that picture a little bit sooner. That’s all it was. I just wanted to see that picture of myself.

I went there immediately because that’s what I want is to remind ourselves, reflect back on our lives of something just so personal and that maybe now you can help there. I wish I was reminded of that sooner.

[00:47:37] Suzanne F Stevens: What is the worst piece of advice you’ve ever received?

[00:47:42] Jennifer Buchanan: I can remember her standing beside me in choir and she said, You’re too loud. Stop singing. I’ve showed her.

[00:47:48] Suzanne F Stevens: What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

[00:47:52] Jennifer Buchanan: Absolutely from my mom, which is never quit something when you’re feeling in a low. Build yourself up first and then you’re allowed to quit. But you have to quit when you’re feeling better and up on a high. End on a high note, she would say.

[00:48:10] Suzanne F Stevens: What is one piece of advice you would give to an entrepreneur who wants to have a social impact?

[00:48:17] Jennifer Buchanan: I would say figure out what your Venn diagram is. Mine is rooted on something called a bliss point, which is, looking at health, mastery, and heart. And so I’ve got my Venn diagram, figure out what yours is, that are all the pieces required, and give yourself a quick audit as to which area do you need to level up a bit, because I guarantee you need all three.

[00:48:46] Suzanne F Stevens: So, mine’s heart, health, and mastery, If you had a daughter,

[00:48:52] Jennifer Buchanan: I do.

[00:48:54] Suzanne F Stevens: I’ve got a son and a daughter, but I hardly can wait to answer this question because she’s the coolest person. So how old is she today?

[00:49:00] Jennifer Buchanan: She is 29 today.

[00:49:03] Suzanne F Stevens: Knowing what you know now,

[00:49:05] Jennifer Buchanan: what advice would you give her?

[00:49:07] Suzanne F Stevens: Probably the same that I gave her, which is just be fully you. Being full of you is the best. What advice do you wish you received at 10 years old?

[00:49:22] Jennifer Buchanan: I probably wish I had the same.

[00:49:25] Suzanne F Stevens: What is one thing you had to do that makes you uncomfortable, but if you didn’t do it, you wouldn’t have had this desired impact on your social initiative?

[00:49:34] Jennifer Buchanan: I absolutely love being a keynoter. It is still something that is scary every time for me. It’s absolutely vital for me to achieve my mission to keep getting even better at it.

[00:49:50] Suzanne F Stevens: Who is the greatest female influence in your life and why?

[00:49:55] Jennifer Buchanan: Again, I’m just going to have to say my mom, and I’m sure lots of people have said that. I told you she’s a single mom, three jobs. And always knew where we were, and I always felt safe, and she went through a lot. She is, to get where she’s been, still with us, and there’s no better shopping partner in the entire world.

[00:50:19] Suzanne F Stevens: What three values do you live by?

[00:50:21] Jennifer Buchanan: Kindness is, really important. Warmth is really important. And that I would like to see a world where no one is left behind just because they’re struggling with something.

[00:50:40] Suzanne F Stevens: Do you have a book that you could recommend that’s in your field?

[00:50:44] Jennifer Buchanan: Yeah, um, I guess saying my own would be terrible, although it’s excellent.

[00:50:50] Suzanne F Stevens: So go ahead and say your own,

[00:50:52] Jennifer Buchanan: The latest one’s called Wellness Well Played, and it includes, some of this work we’ve been talking about today, about interacting with your music in a very personal way, but also learning about the neuroscience, around what it’s actually doing in our bodies.

So it goes into that, but that only came from, reading books like This is Your Brain on Music by Daniel Levitin. Anybody who has graduated from McGill in neuroscience and focused on neuroscience and music are writing incredible things. I recommend that. And I also want to give a shout out for my mentor who has passed.

Her name is Fran Herman and she wrote a great book called Accentuate the Positive.

[00:51:38] Suzanne F Stevens: Awesome. Now, besides yours, you have several beneficiaries of your work. And, many that we talked about. But besides your beneficiaries, which beneficiary do you think needs the most investment of time, research, and money?

[00:51:58] Jennifer Buchanan: Grumpy Men.

 I’m serious.

[00:52:02] Suzanne F Stevens: I know you are. It’s definitely original.

[00:52:05] Jennifer Buchanan: I think if we could solve that problem, I was going to say grumpy and narcissistic because sometimes they can go together But I feel if we could solve that, and I do believe music taps in and I’ve seen it happen many times, yeah, that whole thing of fueling a kinder, warmer, more creative world, it will happen.

[00:52:27] Suzanne F Stevens: I love it. Grumpy Man. That will be our soundbite from this. Jennifer, where can people reach you or follow you? Of course, we have Your page and what I would suggest you do is send me a link to your book where they can buy your book as well because we do have your bio and everything else on your page where this video will be as well.

[00:52:48] Jennifer Buchanan: Oh, that’s great. It’s really easiest to reach me on the contact form. I’ve got two websites. So I’ve got one which is the bulk of our music therapy world in our services, and that’s at JBMusic Therapy. com. And then I’ve got, personal videos where I’m going and Speaking to the public and talking to them about how they can incorporate more music in their lives to reach their goals at jenniferbuchanan.ca.

[00:53:17] Suzanne F Stevens: Love it.

Final Thoughts and Words of Wisdom

[00:53:18] Suzanne F Stevens: Any final words wisdom for our audience regarding making your contribution to society?

[00:53:23] Jennifer Buchanan: I do believe that, before we share music with anybody else, it’s really important that we dig a little deeper in ourselves. if you can take just a moment this week to have a real uniting moment with a piece of music you’ve been drawn to lately and give yourself a minute just to turn it on, not do anything else, allow it to wash over you, and then go out and just share that piece somehow, either through social media or to call somebody and just say, hey, I just listened to this song and it reminded me or made me think of this so you can create a connection and then ask them. What’s a song that you’ve been drawn to lately?

[00:54:10] Suzanne F Stevens: Love that answer.

[00:54:11] Jennifer Buchanan:

[00:54:12] Suzanne F Stevens: Do you have any words of wisdom for our audience regarding making a conscious contribution to society?

[00:54:19] Jennifer Buchanan: Give the best of yourself every day.

[00:54:23] Suzanne F Stevens: Thank you, Jennifer. Thank you for sharing your insight, inspiration, and your social impact. And I look forward to seeing the launch of your scholarship,

because that’s what I do too.

[00:54:35] Jennifer Buchanan: Right? I’m really excited about it.

[00:54:39] Suzanne F Stevens: Giving, investing in education provides opportunity, which is why I’m a huge fan of providing opportunity.

Scholarships are a great way, especially at the higher levels.

So discover more, on the podcast and these impact leaders transforming where we live and work. Please visit podcast.youmewe.ca. Please share and subscribe. And until next time, I’m Suzanne F. Stephens, and I encourage you to make your contribution count. You. Me. We.