Tim’s story

I was just lying there in bed, looking at my arm that wasn’t there anymore, thinking all the worst things. And to have the music therapy was just like a shining light in my life.

Tim

Music therapy has allowed Tim, an accomplished musician coming to terms with a brain injury and amputated arm, to rediscover a sense of purpose and identity.

Tim found himself in hospital after jumping from a bridge. He is now living with a brain injury, severe visual impairment, large amounts of pain and has an amputated arm below his left shoulder. This means that he can no longer play his beloved guitar.

This really affected Tim. He had always been a guitarist and singer, performing in multiple bands and as a solo act. “Even in the morning I’d be putting the kettle on, I’d have the guitar on and I’d be jamming away on it,” he says. “Things like that, I can’t do anymore – and it really hurts.”

The accident and its aftermath were a lot to come to terms with. Tim also needed to process the grief and loss that had affected him so severely before the accident. While on a neuro-rehab ward, he was referred for music therapy. The hope was that sessions might help lift his mood and help him maintain good mental health. “I was just lying there in bed, looking at my arm that wasn’t there anymore, thinking all the worst things. And to have the music therapy was just like a shining light in my life,” he says.

Tim had a series of online one-to-one sessions with our music therapist, Lucie. She says: “Tim seemed to find great joy in our weekly sessions, which initially consisted of us singing well-known songs together, with myself on the piano or guitar and Tim singing strongly.” Tim shared with her his devastation at no longer being the musician he used to be, so together they began looking at the musical avenues he could still explore, even with his amputation. That was when

Lucie suggested he start writing his own tunes.

I’m looking forward to playing it to my kids, and saying, there you are: there’s your dad.

Tim

Tim would compose the lyrics and sing Lucie the bassline and melody. He would also dictate the chords, describing, in detail, the sound he was looking for. “I was astonished at Tim’s amazing musicality and how he was able to write a song, all online, by simply hearing it in his head and telling me what he was hearing,” says Lucie. “And all of this after a huge injury too.”
Tim wrote his first song while still in hospital and finished it just before he was discharged.

Music therapy was so important for Tim that, he and Lucie were able to meet virtually for another 12 weeks to support Tim as he transitioned back into living in the community. He soon completed his second song. Tim’s determination made it possible for him to record both songs. This was despite the challenges of the whole process taking place over Zoom.

A year later, Tim and Lucie had the opportunity to record his songs properly at a professional studio. He was “over the moon” to hear about this and the whole experience was further consolidation of his musicianship and identity. Tim and Lucie met in person for the first time to rehearse Tim’s music. The following day, they recorded the songs at Shabbey Road Studio. Tim is enormously proud of the resulting music, and you can watch him perform one of his songs in the video below.

Music is such a vital part of Tim’s life so we’ve been keen to offer more creative opportunities for him. Tim has been able to continue to access music therapy sessions through our community services with music therapists Lydia and Alex. We are delighted that Tim’s wellbeing continues to be supported through the healing power of music.

Watch Tim perform his song, ‘Pretty in Pink’