Music Therapy

We are pleased to be able to offer Music Therapy as additional provision to Bradford schools from September 2020.  A member of our team has recently qualified with a Master’s Degree in Music Therapy using the prestigious Nordoff Robbins approach and is working with Bradford Music & Arts Service to extend our support to children and schools.  This opportunity is open to schools in both a SEND and mainstream setting.

To enquire further or book this provision, please contact schoolsmusicandarts@bradford.gov.uk or 01274 434970.

Why use music therapy?

Music therapy has been known to be highly beneficial to students and pupils who are often more hard to reach for a multitude of reasons. Music tuition is very useful for a lot of young people, however some might find that the teacher/student relationship that can restrict access for children who might live with conditions such as autism, global developmental delay, ADHD, attachment disorder, and many other conditions that can affect a child’s communication and subsequent well being.

What is music therapy?

Music therapy is an approach that comes with a Master’s Degree certified therapist, who works with children by using music as an alternative method of communication. The therapist will use call and response, structured improvisation and song writing in a non-verbal approach. They will also have therapeutic aims for the children they work with which are set by liaising carefully with other members of staff.  There is a high standard of note taking, record keeping and safeguarding, which help to make subsequent examples and presentations to staff and families through recorded sessions. Presentations and performances aim to demonstrate the therapeutic process that the individual has taken since their journey with music therapy began and can show a great deal of progress with how they interact and communicate, all through the medium of music.

Music therapy can work in 1:1 sessions and small groups and produce a variety of outcomes, depending on group size.  The focus is on the individual and how they feel a sense of interaction in a group setting.  Bigger groups might be for an end of term performance.