Singing Sands Music Therapy

09/06/2024

We have an employment opportunity here in beautiful Prince Edward Island - if you or a colleague are interested, please reach out with any questions you may have or to submit your application!

08/19/2024

✨EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY ✨
Please Share!
Singing Sands Music Therapy is looking for a
Certified Music Therapist to join their team!

Start Date: As Soon As Possible
Application Deadline: Until Filled

Position: Part-time position in Charlottetown, PE and area with future opportunity for full-time; three days per week (20 billable hours/week) at present with expectation of increased hours as new referrals come in.

Who is Singing Sands Music Therapy Inc.?
Founded in 2010 by Shona Pottinger, Singing Sands Music Therapy Inc. is Prince Edward Island’s largest private practice music therapy service provider. Our dedicated team of Certified Music Therapists provide clinical and consultation services to clients in a variety of settings.

Why Join Our Team?
We’re looking for a passionate, dedicated music therapist to join our team and serve diverse client populations in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and surrounding areas. Music therapy in Prince Edward Island is growing quickly and as a well-established business Singing Sands can give you the support and tools you need to do what you do best: deliver high-quality professional music therapy services to our clients. Ideally the successful candidate will begin their clinical duties as soon as possible. There will be an opportunity to advance from a part-time to a full-time position as referrals come in. If you are worried about finding housing, we can help!

As a team member of Singing Sands Music Therapy Inc., you will enjoy benefits such as...
• Regular pay days without the time, stress and paperwork involved in invoicing clients, overdue payments and tracking and collecting funds from different sites
• Acquisition of contracts without having to invest time and money into advertising
• Flexible works hours/time off
• A wide assortment of rhythm instruments for use with clients
• Your own business cards
• Professional liability insurance
• Access to programming tools and resources
• A dedicated work cellphone
• Support, positivity, and mentorship from Singing Sand’s team of experienced, dynamic MTAs

Job Duties and Responsibilities:
Planning, delivering and providing necessary documentation for clinical music therapy sessions, including private clients and facility work in both one-on-one and group session formats
Communicate as needed with clients, family members and departmental staff at facilities
Approach all work with thought, sensitivity, flexibility and a client-centred focus
Uphold Singing Sands Music Therapy’s reputation for high quality services and professionalism

Training Requirements:
Minimum Bachelor of Music Therapy (or equivalent) from a recognized institution MTA (Music Therapist – Accredited) or MT-BC (Music Therapist Board Certified) designation; applicants who are not yet certified but have completed (or will soon have completed) their clinical internship requirements and have plans to sit the Board Certification exam in the near future will also be considered
Membership in good standing with CAMT
Vocal and multi-instrument proficiency
Minimum 1 year experience working with a variety of populations (can include internship hours)
Valid driver’s license and reliable mode of transportation
Clear criminal record check, including Vulnerable Sector clearance
Highly motivated and passionate about music therapy
Organized, independent, punctual and professional
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal)

How Do I Apply?

Apply by sending your updated professional CV to Shona at: info@singingsandsmt.ca.
Any questions can be directed to the same email.
Candidates will be contacted for virtual interviews (via Zoom).

06/24/2024

Did you have a chance to listen in yet? We were so delighted to be asked by Beyond the Studio to be their guest on the most recent Candian Music Therapy’s Podcast. Thank you to Adrienne and Cathy for being wonderful hosts.

PS - we ARE hiring AND we are excited to announce we are now accepting applications for INTERNS! Visit www.singingsandsmt.ca for more information if you’re interested.

Music Therapy in Canada’s Smallest Province 🍁🎙️

On this episode we are speaking with Shona Pottinger about what it’s like to offer music therapy services in the smallest province in Canada, Prince Edward Island. Shona tells us more about internship opportunities with Singing Sands Music Therapy and her journey to becoming a music therapist.

Here is a little more about Shona:
Shona founded Singing Sands Music Therapy in PEI in 2010 and has experience working with clients from ages 24 months to 100 years who have a variety of diagnoses, including Dementia, Alzheimer's, ABI, Stroke, Parkinson's Disease, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Autism, and Global Developmental Delay. Shona completed her undergraduate degree at Acadia University, after which she undertook a 7-month internship position at Parkstone Enhanced Care in Halifax, Nova Scotia. While contracting her services to long-term care facilities in the Charlottetown area for both group and individual sessions, Shona has continued to develop a successful practice. Continuing education is also an important part of Shona's commitment to providing quality music therapy services. She has completed multiple workshops ranging from Mental Health First Aid to behaviour modification approaches, as well as attended regional, national, and international music therapy conferences.



Thank you for your support and please RATE, REVIEW and SUBSCRIBE!

12/06/2020

Hello everyone!

As we continue to manage COVID-19 here on Prince Edward Island, I want to remind all clients that we make your safety our number one priority. All clients are reminded that masks are mandatory for those attending sessions, washing hands or using sanitizer before, during, and after sessions is required, and studios will continue to be sanitized between sessions. We ask that you wait outside until your therapist comes to meet you at the main entrance.

If anyone in your household has recently returned from overnight off-Island travel, we ask that you delay your return to sessions while they complete their quarantine. Similarly, if anyone in your household is experiencing symptoms, we advise you to contact 811 and we will reschedule any missed sessions after you or they recover.

Please reach out if you have any further questions or concerns and remember that this is a time to be patient and to be kind. Thank you to Dr. Morrison and her team for once again doing their best to keep Islanders safe!

Shona

07/18/2020

My friends are looking for donations to allow members to participate in on-line programming while in-person programs continue to be suspended due to COVID-19. Please share if you can!

06/19/2020

From today’s Guardian - happy Friday!

https://www.theguardian.pe.ca/news/local/pei-music-therapy-business-reaches-out-to-clients-that-had-been-using-catholic-family-services-bureau-464106/

The owner of a P.E.I. music therapy business is hoping to fill a bit of the gap left by the closure of the Catholic Family Services Bureau. Shona Pottinger has spent the past decade building a clientele for Singing Sands Music Therapy and

06/11/2020

This is worth sharing again - not just for people who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, either! Music therapy can be highly beneficial for those from all walks of life, and we have taken extra precautions to ensure our sessions occur safely for all clients.

If you haven't heard about Neurologic Music Therapy, you need to!  A simple online search will provide some pretty spectacular information a...

06/11/2020

The first three weeks of sessions are under our belts - and we are happy to say everyone has adjusted to the new normal. Safety precautions are in place to ensure the continued sanitization of the studio space between clients, as well as during each session.
If you or a loved one are interested in finding out more information about music therapy, piano, ukulele, or guitar lessons (each can be adapted to the individual needs), please reach out by phone (902) 393-3825, or by email musicforyou@live.com. We would be happy to offer our services!

05/18/2020

We are thrilled to announce that Singing Sands Music Therapy can resume in-person one-on-one sessions! We are excited to see each and every one of you. If you are a current client, please read on as we outline the new protocols to keep everyone safe and continue our sessions. For any potential new clients or piano/guitar students, please contact Shona at 902-393-3825 or musicforyou@live.com to arrange a consultation.

CHARLOTTETOWN CLIENTS:
Sessions will resume at Murphy's Community Centre beginning Tuesday, May 26th, at your assigned time. When arriving at the Centre, please wait in your car. The Centre is not open to the general public; therefore, the doors will remain locked. To maintain social distancing, only one client will be in the building at a time, and there will be a 15-minute space between clients to allow the instruments and studio space to be appropriately sanitized. Shona will meet you at the front door, where everyone entering the building will sanitize their hands before heading into the studio. Parents/caregivers will be allowed to wait during the session but will be asked to remain in the designated waiting area and not wander the building. Once the session is over, Shona will again walk you out; it is required that hands once again be sanitized before exiting. This will help ensure the health and safety of everyone. We realize there will be an adjustment period and are grateful for all of your patience. PLEASE RESPECT YOUR SESSION TIME, as there is now a long stretch between clients to ensure sanitization, making it impossible to "catch up" on any lost time if you are late.

SUMMERSIDE CLIENTS:
Sessions will resume at our space in Summerside on Friday, May 22nd. The building is locked and not open to the general public, so we ask you to please wait in your car. To maintain social distancing, only one client will be in the building at a time, and there will be a 15-minute space between clients to allow the instruments and studio space to be appropriately sanitized. Shona will meet you at the front door, where everyone entering the building will sanitize their hands before heading into the studio. Parents/caregivers will be allowed to wait during the session but will be asked to remain in the designated waiting area and not wander the building. Once the session is over, Shona will again walk you out; it is required that hands be sanitized before exiting. This will help ensure the health and safety of everyone. We realize there will be an adjustment period and are grateful for all of your patience. PLEASE RESPECT YOUR SESSION TIME, as there is now a long stretch between clients to ensure sanitization of the space, making it impossible to "catch up" on any lost time if you are late.

*As a reminder, if you are experiencing ANY COVID-19 symptoms or have travelled/been in contact with anyone who has travelled out of province, please quarantine yourself appropriately, and we will commence sessions once your 2-week quarantine period is complete.*

03/29/2020

These are new and sometimes challenging times we are all living right now. If you are feeling anxious or even having moments of depression - it’s ok. This is not a normal situation we find ourselves in. Music therapy can be helpful. This is an easily understood article from CBC with Music Therapist Dany Bouchard, who lives and works in Montreal.
This too shall pass...

https://www.cbc.ca/music/we-asked-a-music-therapist-how-to-relieve-anxiety-caused-by-social-distancing-1.5504973

‘You can use music to access emotions and liberate them.'

03/17/2020

Singing Sands Music Therapy has suspended all in-person services, effective March 16, for the time being. For current clients who are interested and able to try online sessions, please reach out.
Remember to keep up-to-date on what protocols are in place with regards to sanitization, social distancing, and self-isolation. This is a crucial time to help minimize the number of infections, and help keep the vulnerable populations safe. Take care of yourselves, and be kind to one another. ❤️

12/01/2019

Music Therapy in Hospitals - a great report on music therapy being used in a hospital setting. This is an article from our neighbours to the south, but it outlines how effective and important music therapists can be.

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/music-therapy-lift-body-soul-patients/story?id=40279975

Music therapists aim to ease pain, nourish social connections, and bring peace and familiarity to patients in the hospital.