Danny at his piano lesson at C-Sharp Music Studios in Acton.
Since we are not all motivated the same way it can be challenging to inspire a loved one, but we have to keep trying.
For Christine, it was very frustrating to see her 21-year-old son Danny (fictional name) lacking motivation.
After graduating from high school in Acton Danny enrolled in a college program. Unfortunately, he didn’t do well, was discouraged and dropped out. For a while he stayed home and applied for jobs instead. When that didn’t work out, Christine drove him back and forth 40 minutes in each direction so he could volunteer for a recycling agency, building experience for his resume, while continuing the job search.
When the one real job opportunity he interviewed for didn’t work out, he was very disappointed and lost all hope. “He became deeply depressed and disengaged from his friends. He mostly spent his days sleeping and playing computer games and lost all motivation. He also stopped volunteering.”
Then one day after seeing his counsellor, he brought home a brochure about the High Notes Music program. “At first I was sceptic about the promises about better mental health the program offers,” says Christine. Danny has OCD so he couldn’t participate in the school music program when he was younger, because of his fear of touching things. “Then I saw with my own eyes the effect it had on my son.”
He applied for the lessons and although Acton is not part of the area High Notes Avante regularly serves we thought his application was so compelling that we found him a teacher and set him up for lessons.
Christine says the program has had an enormous impact on him. “Now he gets up early every Wednesday morning to get ready for the lessons and makes sure he practices enough to know his homework.” He has also started to see his friends again. Some of them are also involved in music. Although Danny has only had a few lessons Christine already sees a big change. He is proud of his accomplishment and sometimes shares what he has learned with a friend or two. He is motivated to continue when he hears that some of his friends also were in their ‘20s when they started to play. “At first he thought he was too old to learn, but one of our 63-year-old friends who plays in a band encouraged him and told him to just jam, it is never too late. He may not become a professional musician but having his music gives him new confidence.” This confidence may spill over into other areas of life as his brain is now activated in a new way.
Christine says that although it is early she is sold on the benefits the program offers. Before she had seen the effect music has on people with dementia but didn’t know the effect it can have on people with mental health issues. “It really is true that it can have the same or a greater effect than medicine. I am seeing it with my own eyes,” she says while offering to help High Notes Avante find more funding in the region she lives in.
We at High Notes Avante get motivated by talking to people like Christine. We would love to accept every person who applies for free music lessons through the High Notes Music program—but are limited. We are currently at capacity and have to make some hard decisions while we seek additional funding.
Any help to pay for the lessons, venue and instruments would be greatly appreciated. Anyone fundraising ideas are also most welcome.
Statistics from anonymous student surveys evaluated by an independent researcher show that 94% of our participants’ quality of life has been positively affected. In addition, 73% state their mental wellbeing has been enhanced. Interestingly, 55% also say they have become less physically limited.
THAT helps US stay motivated. Thank you Christine and Danny for letting us know we make a difference. We will continue to do our best so you also can.
The High Notes Music Program is made possibly by our fundraising at Bingo World and Gaming, Richmond Hill. We currently have a waitlist for new people wishing to join the program. Kindly visit our website highnotesavante.ca to make a donation and to read more.