Dan Dwoskin plays the Trane Sept. 3. Image courtesy Dan Dwoskin.

By Brendan Hair

Vigour Projects, a new Toronto-based not-for-profit organization will be presenting its first health music concert called Vigourfest at Trane Studio on Sept. 3.

Founder and president Dr. David Alter, a cardiologist and researcher who has been writing songs since his teens, merged his love for music and health to create the project.

Alter’s plan for Vigourfest is to improve the health of communities through music. And the project’s drive is generating health awareness by presenting musical genres ranging from indie to adult contemporary.

As a doctor, Alter believes music is the most “primal therapeutic tool.”

“Music has a lot of impacts on individuals and on communities,” says Alter.

According to Alter, medical research shows music impacts blood pressure, heart rate, behaviour, and emotion.

But he also hears artists say that music has an ability to break down social barriers.

Dan Dwoskin, an indie musician participating in the inaugural Vigourfest believes that music is a universal language, that can connect complete strangers.

Dwoskin says music is especially impactful on health because of the way people emotionally and physically react to it.

“[People] are swayed to dance, smile, sing, or cry when they hear something powerful enough to dictate the mood. Music can inspire action, heal a broken heart, allow love to blossom, and calm our nerves,” he says.

Proceeds for Vigourfest will support the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario.

Vigourfest will not only promote great music, but  great food too.

The organization will be receiving support from The Toronto Vegetarian Association and samples from local food vendors.  Cooking demos will also be supplied courtesy of Karma Co-op.