We all know that listening to one of our favourite tunes can change the way we feel, but can music have clinically-effective therapeutic effects?
The answer is yes. Music Therapy is not only being practiced in hospitals and clinics around Melbourne, but in its many music bars and venues as well.
- Listen to the recorded interview with Tim McMillan here -
On Tuesdays and Thursdays starting from around 9pm, renegade-folk acoustic-guitarist, Tim McMillan hosts an open-mic night titled Tim McMillan and Friends.
Typically the night at Spleen Central, 41 Bourke St, personifies Tim’s friendly personality by attracting a wide range of unique and varying acts, equally unique people, and a group of loyal regulars. – Get directions!
The interesting element to Tim’s work is that you can often find his past high-school students and some of his friends with mental-disabilities at his live shows enjoying a combination of crazy antics, abstract renditions of familiar songs, originals, percussive improvisations, and pure playing finesse.
Therapeutically, Tim says the Guitar is particularly remedial
With this group that I’m working with, some of the guys are really quite hard to work with in certain areas – but when you put a guitar in front of them they totally chill out, get really focused and are really empowered […]
Spleen Central
Tim started teaching students guitar at his former high-school, Mt. Eliza Secondary College, around seven years ago. He has since found his calling, working at a clinic servicing those who are mentally challenged.
I spend one day doing music therapy with them, and the other days doing non-musical activities.[…]It’s been really good, I enjoy it much more than mainstream teaching – which wasn’t sort of my cup of tea. […] It seemed far more natural for me working there [at the clinic], and being in this sort of field [Music Therapy].
A past high-school guitar student, Sam Toebelman, relived his experience learning guitar through Tim Mcmillan, saying that there were more jokes and funny stories than strict learning.
He [Tim] mostly just cracked jokes and told me funny stories. Lessons with Tim were always interesting, the humour was great and he taught me how to play. [...] its funny seeing him so many years later playing all around Australia and overseas!
… Since high-school, Sam is now studying an audio engineering course at JMC Academy, and working on his on own musical endeavours.
Tim’s local influence will be temporarily put on hold however, as the full Tim McMillan Band travels to Germany for a month of touring.
Upon their return they will be playing downstairs at Serafino’s in Leongatha on November 28th, and then Grumpy’s in Fitzroy on December 4th. Check out the Tim McMillan Band myspace, and the links below for more details.
Tim McMillan Band Myspace
Want More?
Listen to the interview with Tim McMillan
Listen to the Tim McMillan Band by visiting their Myspace
Watch Tim McMillan’s Blue on Youtube
Get directions to Spleen Central
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All Photos Copyright Alex Mangl unless otherwise stated.
Awesome blog!
I thought about starting my own blog too but I’m just too lazy so, I guess I‘ll just have to keep checking yours out.
LOL,
Thank you Savannah, were you reading our blog all the way from brazil?