Music For Wellbeing
Hello everyone!
I have been thinking a lot recently about my career as a music therapist. By the Easter break I will have been working as a music therapist for 2 years. So, naturally I’ve been thinking about how I want to see my career progress in the next 2 or 5 or 10 or however many years!
My career dream would to be working mainly in hospitals, specialising in neurologic music therapy. Which would be working with stroke or traumatic brain injury patients in neuro-rehabilitation settings.
But, I’ve also been playing with the idea of creating my own dream role. Where I get the best of both worlds, doing clinical work and administrative work liaising with clients and organisations. Maybe going down the path of music and wellbeing education and training.
I am lucky to have so many supportive friends and family members who I have been speaking to in the last couple weeks about this idea, who have instantly celebrated and helped me to shape this idea into a concept.
So without further ado, I will introduce this concept which has yet to be blessed with a name (any ideas would be greatly appreciated!).
MUSIC FOR WELLBEING
I would like to form my own organisation, which focuses on bringing music workshops and education to communities and demographics, which can be overlooked and misunderstood.
Music is such a powerful tool for supporting and improving mental health, memory loss, connection, communication and creativity amongst many many other things. I would like to provide the opportunity to bring people together to experience the magic of music and all the benefits it can bring to your life.
The concept is to run 5 core programmes. Each is designed to combat a different issue and provide a sense of community across all.
Over the next few weeks I will be posting about each programme.
Below is the first programme.
Community Choir
This will be an ongoing choir open to the whole community. It will accessible to all, as there will be opportunities to read music (should this interest you) or learn by ear. Everyone will be supported to learn in a way that suits them and makes them feel comfortable. The pieces the choir will learn will be chosen by the group and each term there will be a public performance. This is different from other choirs as it will support learners at any stage of their musical abilities. It will also be run at donation cost, based on the idea that you pay what you can afford. This will allow as many people as possible to join should they wish without having to worry about the fees.
The focus of the choir is to build a sense of community among the local area, encourage conversations and connections amongst people and to help build new fun hobbies.
The future aim for this choir is to become part of the local social prescribing opportunities that can be promoted by GPs and health professionals.
If you would like to find out more about this programme, please do not hesitate to contact me using the email address or the form on the contact page.
And stay tuned for the next programme’s details over the coming weeks.
OVERALL
I know this will be a big undertaking to create my own business and it may take years to fully get up and running. But it is an important project which can really benefit people.
I feel I have a duty to use my gifts, skills and passions for the better, to support those who cannot necessarily support themselves. And the best I know how is through music.
Music truly changes lives, it has changed mine. So it’s time I try to show others what it can do for them too.
Sending all the love!
