Music Therapy Week: Transform Lives with Music - Nordoff and Robbins

What is music therapy week?

Music Therapy Week runs every year from 10-15 April. It’s time to raise our voices and shine a light on the positive impact of music therapy.

We’re on a mission to raise awareness of music therapy and the conditions it can help. Millions of people in the UK are living with dementia, learning difficulties or mental health issues, or are autistic. Many face barriers that make it difficult to communicate or connect with the world around them. Where words are absent, music speaks.

Music therapy has been a part of 19 year-old Jamal‘s life since he was 5 years old, and it’s transformed his life. Jamal has autism, and when he was young this meant he had limited communication and social skills, as well as severe sensory processing difficulties. But music became his “safe space”. “He learned to express himself through music and the piano became his voice,” said his mum, Anetta. Watch the video of Jamal performing on his favourite instrument, the piano.

How can I get involved?

There are so many ways to get involved this Music Therapy Week! We’ve got images and infographics for you to share on social media. Posters and bunting for you to put up in your local area. Quizzes to play with your friends, family and colleagues.

We’ve also lots of ideas for things you can do at school, with a community group (such as a choir, or guitar group), as well as with your work colleagues. Click on the links below to get started.

A young woman with long brown hair is playing a keyboard and smiling. In front of her is a school pupil wearing a blue hoodie, playing a pink guitar and singing into a microphone. They look like they are having a lot of fun playing music together.

Schools

Inspire the next generation! Introduce students to the power of music therapy and get involved today.

A lady with shoulder length brown hair wearing a bright flowery top. She is holding a percussion instrument that looks like a bell in her right hand, and she's smiling whilst she's playing it.

Community

Bring people together! Whether you’re hosting an event or spreading the word, find everything you need to support Music Therapy Week in your community.

A young woman with her hair in a ponytail is leading a group of people who are sat in a semi-circle in front of her. They are playing drums and tambourines. They look happy and are enjoying playing music together.

Organisations

Make a lasting impact! Discover ways your organisation can contribute.

A selection of handheld bell instruments in bright red, yellow, orange, pink and blue are on top of a table next to a tambourine. The background of the image is deliberately blurred but there are some people sat down in front of a window.

Downloads

Download images and infographics to share on social media, posters and bunting to put up in your local area, and our quiz to play with family, friends or colleagues!

Together, a young child and music therapist happily play the keyboard during a music therapy session

Donate today

As a charity that receives no government funding, we rely on the generosity of people like you to make our transformative music therapy work possible. Donate today to support our work.

What is music therapy?

Our highly-trained, Nordoff and Robbins music therapists support people to connect and communicate through music who otherwise are unable to. We work with a diverse range of people such as those who are autistic, or living with dementia, learning difficulties, brain injuries, life-limiting illnesses, mental health issues, grief and trauma.

Music therapy creates space for freedom and self-expression, improving quality of life and allowing people to do more than just survive. That’s why music therapy can be truly transformational.

What are the benefits of music therapy?

The benefits of music therapy are as diverse as the many people we support – last year alone we supported over 12,200 people with over 48,000 music therapy sessions. But there are some common trends such as improved mental health and quality of life.

The feedback we get from our clients shows just how transformative music therapy can be:

Mental health: We work with pupils in mainstream and in Special Educational Needs (SEN) schools. Out of the pupils we work with in SEN schools, 92% of the people we surveyed last year said that music therapy improved their mental health.
Quality of life: 91% of the people we surveyed last year said that music therapy improved our clients’ quality of life.
Communication, interaction and relationships: 92% of the people we surveyed last year said that music therapy improved their ability to communicate, interact and had an overall positive impact on their relationships.

Stories

A boy playing a guitar and smiling

Alfie’s story

Music therapy has helped nine-year-old Alfie, who is autistic, to find ways to work collectively with others.

A music book sits open during a music therapy session.

Brydie’s story

Music therapy sessions gave Brydie, who lived with dementia, a place to connect with others and rediscover her sociable nature.

A pupil from the Riverbrae School Choir sings into the microphone, as music therapist Stella plays the guitar.

The Riverbrae School Choir

The Riverbrae School Choir welcomes all pupils at the school, and provides a safe space where they can express themselves through music.

See more stories

Leave a legacy

A gift in your will could help thousands of people in need get access to music therapy. Plus we’re giving you the chance to write your will for free.

Find out more.

Interested in partnering with us?

Then we’d love to hear from you! Find out more and get in touch.

Attend an event

We have a varied event series that runs throughout the year. From Carols to our star-studded O2 Silver Clef Awards.

Find out more.