Music as Medicine: A brief history, scientific insights and outstanding questions
- Date
- May 08, 2025
- Time
- 7:30 AM EDT - 9:00 AM EDT
- Location
- Scarboro Golf & Country Club, Toronto, Ontario
- Contact
- Adrianne Kenmir, rsvp@torontomu.ca
Hosted by
TMU Alumni Relations
Description
Social media abounds with claims about the functional uses of music. Among the most shared claims is the notion that music can be prescribed as a medicine with the capacity to lift mood, alleviate anxiety, and promote social wellbeing. Other claims are linked to the potential for music to support rehabilitation in neurodegenerative disease or following brain injury.
Join us for an interactive talk that will provide an overview of studies that provide support for such claims, while identifying areas where more research is needed. The presentation will also include some accessible opportunities for engaging with music. Absolutely no musical training is necessary!
Speaker
Dr. Frank Russo
Professor, Psychology
Toronto Metropolitan University
Bio
Frank Russo is a professor of psychology at Toronto Metropolitan University, where he directs the Science of Music Auditory Research and Technology (SMART) Lab. He is also the Scientific Director of SingWell, an international consortium on singing, communication, and wellbeing. With 100+ publications and $10M+ in funding, he is a leading researcher in auditory neuroscience, with particular expertise in topics concerning music, hearing, and speech.
Location
Scarboro Golf & Country Club (external link)
Winged Foot Room, 321 Scarborough Golf Club Rd.
Toronto, ON, M1J 3H2
Accessibility
TMU is committed to accessibility and inclusion of persons with disabilities. If you have questions, or require additional accessibility accommodations to ensure your participation, please email us at rsvp@torontomu.ca.
