Frequently asked questions
About our services...
Who does Nordoff Robbins help?
Are certain types of music suitable for particular problems/illnesses?
What is the difference between music therapy and music and health?
Is Nordoff Robbins music therapy different from other forms of music therapy?
What’s the difference between music therapy as a profession and other therapeutic uses of music?
Do you need to be musical, or have had music lessons, to benefit from music therapy?
Does music therapy teach musical skills?
What’s the research evidence for music therapy and music and health?
How can I access music therapy or music and health services?
About fundraising...
How can I find out about fundraising for Nordoff Robbins?
How can I pay in any monies raised?
Where does any money I raise go?
How can I find out what you will do with my personal information?
Who do I contact if I would like support with my fundraising?
How does music help people? (back to top)
Human beings can’t help responding to music – it affects our bodies, minds and feelings. It changes the way we move, feel and think. When people participate actively in music-making it brings a wide range of benefits: cognitive, emotional, physical and social.
Music work cannot cure an illness or disability, but it can provide strategies for helping a person to cope with their difficulties. In this sense, music is often said to work with the part of a person that is well, rather than the part that is ill or disabled.
Who does Nordoff Robbins help?(back to top)
At Nordoff Robbins we work musically with people of all ages who are excluded or isolated by a wide range of different factors including illness, disability and trauma.
What happens in a session?(back to top)
There’s no typical session. People are enabled to participate in music in many ways across a range of formats – in individual and group sessions, with families, in performance, improvisation, dance and song (and more).
Are certain types of music suitable for particular problems/illnesses? (back to top)
Music is not a pill – it can’t be prescribed like medicine nor be guaranteed to ‘work’. There are lots of factors that contribute to people’s individual musical tastes, including their social and cultural context and history. We believe it’s too simplistic to try to equate specific pieces or styles of music with specific results. That’s why at Nordoff Robbins we aim to nurture each person’s unique relationship with music and to find the kind of music that engages them as individuals.
What is the difference between music therapy and music and health? (back to top)
Both aim to enable people to access and participate in music-making and the difference in practice is not always clearly defined. But in general terms, music therapy is aimed at those in acute phases of illness or where specialist intervention is needed to help people develop communication and other vital cognitive skills. The work is frequently (though not always) long-term and often takes place in regular sessions. By contrast, music and health is usually delivered in short-term or project work and aims to help people with particular needs access a broader range of musical opportunities such as learning an instrument, singing in a local choir, creating, recording or performing music.
Is Nordoff Robbins music therapy different from other forms of music therapy? (back to top)
Music therapy is a registered health profession in the UK and the Nordoff Robbins training programme is one of several music therapy trainings. Our approach is sometimes called a ‘music-centred’ approach to music therapy. This is because of the comprehensive and methodical way in which our practitioners are taught the skills of engaging people musically.
What’s the difference between music therapy as a profession and other therapeutic uses of music? (back to top)
Trained music therapists in the UK work by drawing people into active music-making. As members of a registered profession (regulated by the Health Professions Council ) practitioners undertake a recognised training and abide by a professional code of ethics.
Often when people talk about music being ‘therapeutic’ they mean music’s ability to relax and soothe. Whilst not underestimating this property of music, we believe it is only one of many effects that music can have. Music therapy focuses on the way that music connects people together and the way it animates people.
Music therapists are comprehensively trained to work with people with chronic and complex needs and to work with people in a wide range of situations in many different musical ways.
Do you need to be musical, or have had music lessons, to benefit from music therapy? (back to top)
Absolutely not. Everybody responds to music, no matter how ill or disabled – it’s part of what it means to be a human being.
Does music therapy teach musical skills? (back to top)
Musical skills are frequently acquired in the course of music therapy, but they are not taught in a traditional way, as a music teacher would teach them. Music teachers aim to help pupils acquire musical skill for its own sake, but the skills that people develop in music therapy are primarily life skills (e.g. communication, flexibility, interaction, expressivity) developed through musical experience.
What’s the research evidence for music therapy and music and health? (back to top)
Music therapy is an international research discipline today. The evidence base for our work is growing all the time. Our Research section provides information about the research work undertaken by Nordoff Robbins and extensive bibliographical references of research in the field.
How can I access music therapy or music and health services? (back to top)
Our services are delivered in schools, hospitals, care homes and other organisations with which we collaborate, as well as at our own centres and units. Read more about how to access our music services.
How much does it cost? (back to top)
Each of our centres operates a sliding fee scale so all can benefit, details of which may be obtained from them upon request. Organisations such as schools, hospitals and care homes can establish a partnership with us; several alternative financial arrangements are available.
How long does the work last? (back to top)
Music therapy is normally offered on a weekly basis. Sessions range in length from under half an hour to over an hour (depending on setting and need) and may be provided for a short time-limited period or for any length of time up to several years. Music and health projects are normally delivered in short term or project work lasting for perhaps several weeks.
How can I find out about fundraising for Nordoff Robbins? (back to top)
Please take a look at our fundraise for us pages for lots of ideas and tips for fundraising for Nordoff Robbins. Alternatively please feel free to call one of the fundraising team on 020 7428 9908 or by email us and we'll help you every step of the way.
How can I pay in any monies raised? (back to top)
By post - please send a cheque or postal order made payable to Nordoff Robbins along with a completed paying in slip to the following address:
Nordoff Robbins (Fundraising), 20-21 Spectrum House, 32/34 Gordon House Road, London, NW5 1LP.
Please do not send any cash in the post. If you would like to pay in monies rasied online, please contact us on 020 7428 9908 or email us.
Where does any money I raise go? (back to top)
As much money as possible goes to our work supporting vulnerable children and adults. Currently this is 85p for every £1 given.
How can I find out what you will do with my personal information? (back to top)
Our privacy policy contains everything you need to know about how we keep and use your personal details. In brief, we will only use your personal details for the purposes of communicating with you and we will not pass them on to any third parties.
Who do I contact if I would like support with my fundraising?
Contact Claire or Susie from the fundraising team on 020 7428 9908 or email us.
