Music Transforming Lives
Play, dance or sing. Cry, remember, dream. Music is universal - everyone responds to it. Music has a unique power to reach deep inside us, touch us, and make us feel different.
© Nordoff Robbins / Photo: John Marshall
The power of music – with all its emotion, energy, resonance and rhythm – reaches people whose lives are constrained by illness, disability, trauma or exclusion. Enabling anyone and everyone to make music, music therapists unlock creativity and expression in people who may have difficulty expressing and communicating. Active involvement in music-making experiences transforms confidence, and builds physical, emotional, mental and social wellbeing.
© Nordoff Robbins / Photo: Jason Pierce-Williams
At Nordoff Robbins everybody is accepted for who they are. The power of music through Nordoff Robbins creates Communication, Action, Relationship and Expression (or CARE for short), things that many who come to us find difficult because of illness or disability.
In Nordoff Robbins sessions people make music together - in whatever way they can. Playing, singing or dancing, making music together encourages communication, action, relationship and expression.
© Nordoff Robbins / Photo: Matthew Dixon
Recognition of our work
The health benefits of music have been recognised for thousands of years, but only in the twentieth century has this power been formalised in a range of specialist services.
The British Society for Music Therapy was founded in 1958, and music therapy became a registered profession in 1999, regulated by the Health Professions Council. This is an acknowledgement of the recognition and respect that the work has achieved over half a century within education, health and social care services. Our work is carried out by professionals who have undertaken an approved training programme, ensuring high standards of practice.
© Nordoff Robbins / Photo: John Marshall