Music Therapy Week 2024
This is my first year as a Music Therapist, and my second year being aware that the 10th -15th of April is officially international music therapy week. Music Therapy New Zealand supported many regions around the motu to present public events, raising awareness and advocating for music therapy to be recognised as the valuable allied health profession that it is.
Music Therapy is celebrating its 50th year anniversary in Aotearoa. Recognising it’s rich history, the theme for this year’s music therapy week was:
“Looking back, Moving Forward”
In Te Matau-a-Māui, myself alongside local music therapists hosted a range of music therapy events.
Community Kōrero
On Monday I put up an interactive display board at the Hastings War Memorial library aimed at sharing many of the ways music is therapeutic, also displayed a few books that were accessible at the library about the importance of music and the strong connection it has to our brain, body and spirit. I remember taking out ‘Musicophilia’ by Oliver Sac’s, recommended to me by a music therapist, when I was first curious about the profession. It definitely solidified my decision to pursue music therapy as a career.
On Wednesday, the first official day of music therapy week, myself and music therapist Ella Polczyk-Przybyla from Raukatauri Music Therapy centre in Hastings presented to music students at the Eastern institute of technology (EIT). They happened to be preparing for a performance so we were able to meet them at the Cabana (New Zealand’s oldest music venue) which added a unique vibe to our talk. We sung waiata and experientially were able to offer a little taster into what a group music therapy session might look like. We also had a very important discussion on whether pineapple should be consumed as slices or chunks.
The parade
On Thursday Ella and I filled a car boot with boomwhackers, small hand held percussion, community drums and tree branches. We met some music therapy musicians who have sessions at the Raukatauri Music Therapy centre. Together we led the ‘Take Flight’ parade. Playing our drums and instruments all around the block of Toi Toi (Hawkes bay’s arts and event centre) as part of the children’s creative arts festival: ‘Lift Off’.
Music Alley
On Saturday we were back at ‘Lift off’, this time for ‘Whānau day’ which hosted a range of creative arts workshops for tamariki and their whānau, from puppet making, to backstage costuming and makeup. Ella and I hosted an experiential community music therapy group, in the Alley of Toi Toi. The group started small and continued to grow and grow as time went on. At one point we had over 30 tamariki and their whānau playing instruments singing ‘Let it Go’ from Frozen.
Mums and Bubs Music Group
Our final event for music therapy week was a ‘Mums and Bubs music group’ at the Heretaunga Women’s Centre, a place I hold near and dear due to the huge impact the wāhine who serve the community have had on my own journey. Ella and I played a range of games and nursery rhymes while the pēpi explored different instruments. The egg shakers were a huge hit. Mums and bubs chose songs and shared how they use music at home.
We also had a radio interview scheduled at Radio Hawkes Bay. This has been rescheduled and will be out later this month in conjunction with NZ music month, i’ll keep you posted.
Book Launch
Meanwhile, around Aotearoa many impactful events and discussions were had as part of Music Therapy week. One of my lecturers from Te Herenga Waka (Victoria University), Professor Sarah Hoskyn’s released an updated version of ‘the Handbook of Music Therapy’ which she co-wrote with two pioneering authors in the field, Sangeeta Swarmi and Leslie Bunt. A copy has just arrived on my doorstep and I am starting to delve into many fascinating thoughts and perspectives on the current field of music therapy.
Other awesome events that took place around the motu:
Music Therapist from Auckland, Alison Talmarge, who runs the CeleBRation choir (community choir for individuals and family members with neurological challenges), chatted to Arts Access Aotearoa, advocating for music therapy to be recognised for its flexible capacity to meet the needs of diverse communities. Alison spoke to current challenges surrounding access and the financial and geographical barriers that need to be addressed moving forward.
Dennis Kahui, a māori music therapist based in Dunedin, shared his outlook on his mahi as well as how he uses activities like kapa haka to support participants and their wider community’s music therapy goals. His interview on OAR FM Dunedin is wonderful. Dennis is planning to document his work with a specialist school as they journey to perform at Polyfest. I can not wait to hear more about this.
In Wellington, Music Therapist Sophie Sabri from MusicWell, hosted ‘musicking together’ a community music therapy group. Sophie spoke to local media and performed with a band she works with; ‘the rocking rainbow’ on National breakfast TV. I had the pleasure of working with Sophie during my student placements and I am so inspired by her dedication to making music accessible for all.
Wellington based music therapist Emily Hunt, shared her incredible travelling mahi in ‘the little music caravan’ which she takes with her around the outer regions of wellington to provide access to music therapy for children in schools.
Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre clinical services manager, Rachel Foxell, spoke on RNZ about how music therapy supports confidence in children, reflecting on her journey to Music Therapy and beyond.
Later in the year the theme of ‘Looking back, Moving forward’ will be explored more deeply at the official 50 year anniversary celebration. This will be happening at the New Zealand Music Therapy conference in Wellington, between the 13th-15th of September.
