York Region charity offers free music lessons for youth facing mental health challenges

A York Region charity is making free music lessons available for young people this fall, hoping to offer music as medicine for those grappling with mental health challenges.

High Notes Avante is an organization that aims to use the power of music to help people with past or current mental health issues move forward with purpose and positivity.

Founder Ingrid Taheri says their mission is to inspire and connect people who’ve been touched by mental illness.

“Pretty much all of us do have a mental health story. So we really want to work on raising the image of mental illness so that everybody gets comfortable to speak about it, share experiences and support each other and not be ashamed anymore,” she says.

A pilot program of free music lessons in piano, guitar and choir singing will begin on September 19th, with classes taking place at Richmond Hill United Church.

While the program is primarily offered to youth between 16 and 25, anyone is welcome, space permitting.

“Anybody can apply, but we have a limited amount of spots. So we will ask people to disclose ‘yes or no,’ whether they have a mental health diagnosis, even ‘I think so’ — if there’s anything that they can say that kind of speaks their case for them, but we will take others as well because it’s good for everybody’s mental well being,” says Taheri.

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Taheri says the mental health benefits of music — whether it be listening or playing it — are well established. She began playing piano in her teens and says it helped her through those tumultuous years.

“Scientifically, it also is proven that playing music is good for you. Cortisone levels are reduced. Serotonin levels are increased. So your whole well-being is good,” she says.

“There are so many benefits they get from it — mental cognition, improving their memory, improving their breathing, enjoying that buzz that they get – their happiness hormone,” adds Patricia March, who will direct the in-person choir for the program.

She says that feeling a sense of accomplishment and learning to focus on something is also among the many offshoots of taking music lessons.

Taheri echoes those sentiments, adding that the process of learning a musical skill and going through the course has a therapeutic effect.

“It’s keeping your mind away from your troubles, just focusing on something that you can do and celebrating each step as you progress — building self-esteem, getting more confidence and feeling good about yourself, as opposed to all the bad things that are going on,” she says.

Guitar instructor Alina Grunina says she finds music to be a vital vehicle through which her students can express themselves.

“Music is a universal language. People understand you through music, you can express your emotions,” she says. “I’ve noticed with my students in general, they feel happier… and they are usually in a better mood after [the lesson].  They’re looking forward to the next lesson, and we actually create something together.”

March adds that coming together for a common goal is among the most important aspect of the music lessons High Notes Avante is offering.

“The most important thing for me is the creating of a community, creating an event that people can look forward to week after week, an event where they can meet new people and express themselves and be part of a wonderful experience,” she says.

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Online choir director Sina Fallah hopes young people will feel a sense of kinship and mutual understanding in the supportive community they aim to build.

“I always look at music as a tool, and the way I see it is it can either put a baby to sleep or march soldiers across the field and everything in between,” he says. “So the way we look at music, or I look at music in my sessions, is that it has a sort of adhesive effect. It brings people together, it keeps people together.”

“It’s about people being together in a safe environment for like-minded people that also have a mental health story — not necessarily talking about that story, but knowing that if you should need help, there’s somebody there that might be in the same situation and will understand you,” adds Taheri.

She says they’re offering free lessons in order to make all the numerous benefits of learning a musical instrument accessible to all, especially after more than two years of pandemic inflation.

“Everything else is getting expensive … let’s make it something that everybody can afford … we want to give you hope. We want to inspire you. And we know everybody will do better if they’re able to express themselves through artistic expression,” she said.

While it is best to have an instrument while taking classes, Taheri says they can also assist those who may not have one of their own.

“On the application form, they will indicate whether they do have an instrument to practice on … if somebody doesn’t have an instrument, there’s also an option to indicate that they would like to be considered for a subsidized instrument, and we’ll see what we can do about that,” she said.

The free classes are made possible by a grant from South-Central Richmond Hill Community Quick Action and Richmond Hill Hall Charitable Association, but donations are being accepted.

There are 20 spots available for individual music lessons, and up to 40 people will be accepted for the all-ages choir.

Click here for more information on each of the classes offered and how to apply.