Musicians draw from their own experiences when writing songs as a way to process their lives, including struggles with addition.

It’s a technique Horizon Health Services will start incorporating with its clients, with a little help from one of Buffalo’s best known bassists.

Two years ago Horizon teamed with the Nurs’ n Blues program to bring a one-of-a-kind music therapy program that uses the blues to help patients who battle addiction. 

The program is led by therapist Sheila Connors who uses different music activities to help patients connect with songs and the artists who wrote them. 

“I think you’d be hard pressed to find clients that don’t appreciate talking about artists who’ve overcome addiction, like ‘wow if they can do it so can I’,” she said.  

Friday the non-profit announced a new partnership with Music is Art that will help with fundraising and use its resources to expand the program. 

“One of the greatest things about this concept is you can come in knowing a few chords and a few guys can sit down and have a great time together and that’s a vehicle to a whole ‘nother world,” said Robby Takac, Music is Art’s founder and bassist for the Goo Goo Dolls.

Since starting the program Connors and Nurs’ N Blues have helped more than 600 patients. 

The hope is that with the help of Music is Art, they can keep the beat going.