Behind the scenes of the AQPA singing workshop
Every Tuesday afternoon, classics of French and international song resonate in the AQPA premises. This is the time of the week when our choir meets, led by choir director Christine Cantin.
Exercises and songs adapted for people with aphasia
At the start of the workshop, always the same ritual: vocalizations allow participants to work on their vocal technique. Once the warm-up is over, our members sing back the different songs studied during the workshop. These are selected to meet the needs of people with aphasia. Christine Cantin enlightens us: “We slow down the songs to adapt the workshop to the participants. We also make a particular effort on language, working only on the text and pronunciation through relevant exercises. Finally, we choose suitable songs, with well-placed tonic accents and which will appeal to long-term memory.»
A moment of sharing between members
In this emblematic AQPA workshop, long-time regulars rub shoulders. Hugo, a member of the choir for around fifteen years, particularly appreciates this moment shared between the members: “I like singing, and also the fact that we can all sing together. This allows us to practice speaking and not remain isolated.» France, a member of the choir for more than twenty years, shares this feeling: “What is important when you have aphasia is not to stay at home and to go out. The workshops allow us to meet people. And singing feels good!»
The first choir in Quebec for people with aphasia
The AQPA choir was created in 2001 by Christine Cantin. This initiative then responded to a need that was not yet covered in Quebec: offering singing workshops to people with aphasia. Christine Cantin explains the origin of this initiative: “A relative of mine, who was aphasic, wanted to sing in vocal jazz choirs, but that involved skills they no longer had since his aphasia. That's when we had the idea of creating a choir adapted to the needs of people with aphasia.»
Singing in a caring space
One of the fundamentals of the workshop: offering a caring space for expression free from any judgment. For Christine Cantin, this is an essential condition for the smooth running of the activity: “We try to create a big family where everyone can surpass themselves by taking risks. We emphasize that it's okay not to succeed, and that you get better by trying. It's very rewarding to be able to sing the lyrics when the words weren't coming out before. This creates great pride and bonds between the participants.”
Moving forward with aphasia
Another reason for pride, the AQPA choir performs regularly in Quebec. The Aphasia Choir, for example, participated in the Télé-Québec show La Fabrique culturelle in 2016. The different experiences offered give rise to moments of communion between people with aphasia and the public. These moments are precious for France: “I like to sing in front of other people. The Aphasia Choir gave me this opportunity by giving several performances. The public was present, listening, and people's outlook changed: they understood that we can move forward with aphasia.»
Our choristers are always happy to welcome new members. Any person with aphasia who wishes to sing for pleasure is welcome in this big family.
To find out more about our workshops for people with aphasia
- Would you like to know more about our workshops for people with aphasia? Click here
- Would you like to consult our calendar for people with aphasia? here.
- Would you like to register for our workshops for people with aphasia? here.
- Do you want to know more about aphasia? here.
