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Make a difference
Help support some of the UK’s most isolated and vulnerable people, train the music therapists of tomorrow, and fund the research that makes our work increasingly effective.
Who we are
Nordoff and Robbins is the UK’s largest music therapy charity, with a unique approach shaped by more than 60 years of practice.
Who we help
By harnessing the power of music, we help break through the barriers caused by life-limiting illness, disability and social isolation.
The difference we make
Our work can be transformative, from an adult with dementia reconnecting with family to a child with autism finding their voice.
Music therapy
Music therapy as unique as every person
Working one-to-one or with small groups, our therapists create a platform for people to express themselves and share a connection. No one is being taught, no one is being fixed. Therapist and client make music together as equals, responding to each other’s cues. No two sessions are the same, because no two clients are the same.
Our history
Sixty years of innovation
In 1959, American musician Paul Nordoff and British teacher Clive Robbins pioneered a new approach to collaborative music-making, designed to engage vulnerable and isolated children.
In the 1970s, a charity was formed to develop and deliver their radical but highly impactful form of music therapy. Over the decades, our work has continued to broaden and evolve.
Music is in our DNA
We believe that music is a human right
We’ve all felt music’s potency, how it unlocks feelings and memories and brings us together. It’s a universal language, a mode of communication. Imagine if music alone gave you the power to communicate. Then imagine a life without music.
For some of the people we work with, this is their reality. We work to ensure that everyone who could benefit from music therapy does.
Thinking about a new career? Interested in our research?
Research
Latest events
April 23, 2024
Northern Music Awards
The biggest names of the North. Right here, performing at the Northern Music Awards. The one and only major awards show celebrating Northern music.
July 5, 2024
O2 Silver Clefs Lunch
Since 1976, this star-studded lunchtime gathering has celebrated the genius of legendary musicians, while raising millions of pounds to help share the power of music with the people who need it most.
Latest blogs
World Hearing Day: Five tips for music-making with hearing loss
Music therapist Anna, shares her top tips for making music with people who are hearing impaired. Find out more, from instruments to lighting.
Can music support people living with cancer?
While there isn’t yet a universal cure for cancer, music therapy can provide a vital form of support for cancer patients.