Music therapy is an interactive, mainly non-verbal intervention and works via the development of a musical relationship between the therapist and the child. Music Therapy is flexibly based on spontaneous improvisation, and individually designed to suit each child's specific needs in a different way. The therapist seeks to establish contact with the child through the shared use of sound. Any form of communication from the child is responded to and supported with music or words. The ability to respond to and benefit from, Music Therapy is not dependent on any form of musical training and children can gain self-confidence and self-esteem through spontaneous creative musical improvisation with the therapist.
Music Therapy can help in areas including:
- Communication disorders
- Learning disabilities
- Mental health problems
- Physical difficulties
- Emotional problems
- Challenging behaviour
Music Therapy at First Step is provided on two days of the week, and there are individual and group sessions. Music Therapy is usually a medium to long- term intervention and children always attend for a minimum of one term and usually for a year or more. The time slots in the afternoons are available for children who may have moved on from First Step playgroup but are still benefiting from long-term music therapy. Music Therapy sessions can sometimes help at this stage, providing reassuring stability, when the potentially difficult change from playgroup to school comes along.
First Step has also provided clinical placements for postgraduate music therapy students from Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the feedback about our facilities has been very enthusiastic we have an excellent stock of beautiful musical instruments many of which have been purchased as a result of generous donations, and these are much appreciated and enjoyed by the children.