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Redwoods-v11

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Music therapy<br />

Using music to transform lives, build bridges<br />

and improve quality of life<br />

Day services<br />

For further information on our New Shoots Project, Blossom Studio,<br />

Living Well and Connecting with Life groups please see our website.<br />

Douglas’* Story<br />

“My name is Douglas. I go to<br />

Telfie Central every week<br />

day, as well as working at<br />

McDonalds on a Monday.<br />

I go to the gym and<br />

swimming, as part of the<br />

Living Well group and it makes me stronger!<br />

I like art and make lots of things. I have been<br />

making a dinosaur out of papier-mâché with<br />

Blossom Studio and have just finished a Borders<br />

College art course and got a certificate.<br />

I am part of the Tiger Group (Involvement Group)<br />

where we have been talking about how to keep<br />

our hands clean. We have made a video for<br />

everyone at <strong>Redwoods</strong> to see.”<br />

Winnie’s* Story<br />

Winnie comes to Telfie 3 days<br />

a week. She enjoys the Story<br />

Group where she will read to<br />

the rest of the group.<br />

Like Douglas, Winnie also<br />

enjoys art with Blossom<br />

Studio and says this is her favourite activity. She is<br />

a talented artist and will hold an exhibition of her<br />

work soon.<br />

The Communication Group has been supported in<br />

drama by the Inspire Project and Winnie has been<br />

taking an active part.<br />

At the end of a busy week, she likes to be<br />

pampered and enjoys a manicure and hand<br />

massage to help her relax.<br />

What is Music Therapy?<br />

Music Therapy is an amazing way that people can interact with<br />

music and usually involves the client and therapist playing<br />

instruments and/or singing together. We passionately believe<br />

that everyone can experience and respond to music regardless<br />

of difficulties or disability. Music therapy at <strong>Redwoods</strong> is entirely<br />

tailored to an individual client’s needs.<br />

Ruth’s* Experience with Music Therapy<br />

Ruth has been attending music therapy sessions for six months.<br />

Having had some experience in drumming workshops, Ruth was<br />

keen to try music therapy and explore what it had to offer. The<br />

first session was arranged following a significant life change for<br />

Ruth with the aim to provide regular sessions that would help her<br />

express herself during this challenging transition period.<br />

In music therapy sessions, Ruth accessed a wide range of<br />

instruments, musical styles and musical activities. She quickly found<br />

ways to express herself musically and, with the help of the music<br />

therapist, began arranging songs that had powerful singing parts<br />

into medleys. The act of singing them boosted her confidence and<br />

helped her use her voice, which is challenged by cerebral palsy. It<br />

also brought her great enjoyment and a sense of accomplishment.<br />

She became confident enough to share her new passion with<br />

family and friends in a small concert. All these things have<br />

contributed towards Ruth being able to settle confidently into her<br />

new environment and feel in control of her choices and lifestyle.<br />

She is now happy and confident in her new home and continues to<br />

attend music therapy to further explore her potential and creative<br />

capacities in ways which benefit her emotionally and physically.<br />

What our attendees<br />

think of music therapy:<br />

“Music therapy helps me to<br />

relax. I feel better when I have<br />

music therapy”<br />

– An adult client with autism<br />

“I love going to music therapy.<br />

We can play songs on the<br />

guitar. I’m a good singer.”<br />

– An adult client with learning<br />

disabilities<br />

“The best thing about music<br />

therapy is the music therapist.<br />

A very kind, gentle and patient<br />

lady with a great sense of<br />

humour and great love for<br />

music and all her clients”<br />

– Mother of a client<br />

12<br />

| REDWOODS CARING FOUNDATION<br />

*The names of our clients have been changed to protect their privacy.<br />

*The names of our clients have been changed to protect their privacy.<br />

REDWOODS CARING FOUNDATION |<br />

13

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