They might soon become a famous musical duo 鈥� a new Simon and Garfunkel?
Right now, though, Tim Disher and Daniel Gillis are best known for being the brains behind Unplug 鈥� a Dal student society that brings music into the lives of Halifax鈥檚 marginalized adults.
鈥淲e realized that there weren't really any music programs for people over 35,鈥� explains Mr. Disher. 鈥淎nd I鈥檓 really interested in the therapeutic and community building aspects of music.鈥�
Following a pilot project with Capital Health鈥檚 Connections Clubhouse in April, the group has since worked with the Saint Leonard鈥檚 Society shelter network, the Halifax Rehab, and the Brain Injury Association of Nova Scotia. Each program lasts for a month, during which Unplug鈥檚 musical volunteers visit the organization four times to play and share music with its members.
鈥淚t is not the concept of 鈥榩laying to鈥� or 鈥榝or鈥� but playing with and teaching each other,鈥� says Mr. Gillis, who notes that they don鈥檛 expect their student volunteers to all have extensive musical knowledge: part of the fun of Unplugged is getting to try something new, including instruments. Volunteers often take on new skills: for example, Mr. Disher has taken on the saxophone and guitar since launching Unplug.
Changing people鈥檚 perception and minds
So what鈥檚 it like playing music with homeless and at-risk adults in Halifax?
鈥淚t doesn't feel like you are in a 'shelter',鈥� says Mr. Disher. 鈥淵ou have the same conversations with the people there that you would with any one else. As a society, we often treat people in the shelter system as if they are below us when in reality they are just like you and me and deserve to be treated that way.鈥�
And that鈥檚 key to Unplug: in addition to bringing music to these community organizations, the society鈥檚 members also hope to change people鈥檚 perception towards the disadvantaged.
鈥淲e want to create a community, and music is a good tool for that.鈥� says Mr. Disher.
Given the different organizations they work with, Unplug tries to keep things fresh. 鈥淔our to six weeks is the perfect length for each program, as it is short enough to ensure the volunteers鈥� ability to commit, and long enough to develop meaningful, genuine relationships,鈥� says Mr. Gillis.
The program doesn鈥檛 cost a lot to run: it鈥檚 people and instrument powered.
鈥淲e have three boxes of instruments with bells, drums, triangles... basic instruments,鈥� says Mr. Gillis. 鈥淰olunteers bring their own instruments too: guitars, saxophones, small pianos and more.鈥�
And every Unplug session is a learning experience 鈥� for everyone involved.
鈥淭hey are amazing people, and鈥攊n some cases鈥攇enuinely talented musicians.鈥� says Mr. Disher of the program participants. 鈥淗opefully the experience is enlightening for our volunteers and can help change some perceptions.鈥�
To learn more about Unplug, visit .