A music therapist from Nordoff Robbins works with our children one day a week. They are the largest UK music therapist charity.
How can music be used to improve the quality of lives?
It’s simple, everyone responds to music universally. As humans we are made up of musical elements- the rhythmical beating of our hearts, the speed at which it is comfortable for us to move, the pitch at which we express ourselves when speaking etc. That is why we find that music can be a trans-formative form of expression, enabling us to communicate even without words. It can bring people together in social contexts, be a part of who you are or where you come from. For these reasons and many more, music can be a source of motivation, inspiration, enjoyment and fun!
How does music therapy work?
In music therapy, we can hear everything as music. Everything becomes communicative, be that movement, vocalising or playing of the instruments. In matching the energy levels of a students playing, vocalisations or movements, a music therapist is able to acknowledge who they are and what they are able to do, and musically provide appropriate support. Once the student is aware of this acknowledgement, the trust in the therapeutic relationship enables flow and space for intervention, challenge and change. This interactive music making can be used to work on the development of communicative, social, cognitive and physical skills as well as to enable the development of self-awareness, self-confidence and self-expression.
Music Therapy here at Wood Bank occurs in many different formats, such as:
- Singing songs
- Playing different instruments
- Making up music spontaneously
- Writing songs
- Rehearsing and performing
- Creating music based-stories
Our individual or small group sessions occur throughout the school day for up to 30 minutes.