Music Therapy

Using the innate qualities of music, a therapist can help their client to find an alternative to purely verbal communication. 

Music therapy is based on a relationship formed between a client and the therapist and uses the client’s feelings and thought processes and transforms them into musical expression. This can help regulate and alleviate some of the emotions which are too complex to express verbally either because of their ‘weight’ or because of a physical issue involving speech. 

Music Therapists are skilled musicians who have undergone professional music therapy training at post-graduate level. They are all registered with and monitored by the Health and Care Professionals Council, members of BAMT and are all supported with regular professional supervision.

Below is footage from a Music Therapy session with a past client, Joyce.

'Music provides a key for building up social interaction and communication ... through a medium that allows understandable and empathic forms of expression other than verbal language'. (Hanne Mette Ridder , Tony Wigram & Aase Marie Ottesen 2009)

I currently work for Children's Hospice South West at Little Harbour children’s hospice but also privately in mainstream schools and with clients living with physical and learning disabilities across Cornwall.

I have worked as a Music Therapist for the Methodist Homes Association at their dementia care home in Falmouth as well as for Cornwall Music Service Trust who deliver fantastic work across schools in Cornwall.

Here I am using Katy Perry's 'Roar' as a fun accessible way to engage vocally and personally with my client Adam.

Harbour Walls

Harbour Walls was a project to write a song with the staff of Little Harbour children’s hospice. We released a single which is available in CD format by following the link or also on i-tunes and Spotify. Watch this video for more information.