Volume 23, June 2011 - New England Conservatorium of Music

REPORT
Music Makers
NECOM in conjunction with
PEDAL Early Childhood Intervention
has trialled a pilot music
therapy program during Term 2
2011. known as Music Makers,
two music therapy groups have
been run for children with additional
needs and their parents or
caregivers. Some of the funding
for the groups has been provided
through a grant obtained by
NECOM from the Armidale Dumaresq
Council. The Music Makers
groups have been established by
Natalie Nugent, a music therapist
who has just moved to Armidale at
the beginning of this year.
Music therapy is the planned use
of music to help people who have
specific identified needs. For children
with additional needs music
therapy is used to extend development
through the planned use
of music. Typical goals include
extending communication, physical
skills and enhancing sensory
awareness. The groups have also
aimed to enhance parents’ relationships
with their children
by providing them with skills to
play with their child using music.
Music therapy is not the same as
teaching music; individualised
non-music goals are identified for
each child by the music therapist
through an assessment, music
therapy sessions are implemented
and at the end of the program the
program is evaluated.
Music therapy methods used have
included instrument playing, vocalising
and improvisation techniques,
music and movement and
relaxation. In one of the groups
the parents have also been engaged
in song writing. While the
program is still new, the groups
have had a positive start with
many of the children extending
developments with early communication
skills, such as turn-taking.
4 NECOM NEWS JUNE 2011
Nigel Garrahy-Brennan having fun with the chime bars in music makers.
Callum Grieve participating in the music makers group