By YASEMIN TALAT
MUSIC has always been a central part of Laurel Parkinson’s life and the Altona songbird is now taking her music to new levels in the form of music therapy.
Since her childhood Ms Parkinson has always been musical, she has played various instruments over the years and loves to sing.
Music was what her daughter Isobel also loved.
At aged two little Isobel was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, a common cancer in infancy and children younger than two.
She battled the cancer for a year but died in January 2010.
During this time Ms Parkinson said she never played any music, but for Isobel music therapy was a gift.
“Music was her thing, I used to watch her listening to music and see how much happiness she would get from it,” Ms Parkinson said.
“It was the happiest time in her day.”
Now Ms Parkinson wants to bring that happiness to others and has enrolled to do her Masters in Music Therapy at Melbourne University.
“She is my inspiration for doing this,” Ms Parkinson said. “I feel like it’s definitely my calling,” she said.
Some time after Isobel lost her battle to cancer Ms Parkinson turned back to music.
She started playing her guitar again, recording music and playing with other musicians.
She also formed a band ’Laurel and the Pain Killers’.
“The amazing thing is at that time I thought that I could never ever have a life again, I thought that I couldn’t work, I thought that I would never feel happiness and be able to re-engage in life again,” Ms Parkinson said.
“So to get to this point now for me is like a miracle, I never thought that I would get to this point.”
Ms Parkinson will play acoustic sessions for the public at Altona Sports Club every Sunday from 2 March between 2 pm and 5pm.
For more information visit www.facebook.com/laurelparkinson
