Council grant hits right chord

Friday, 13 September 2019

Penrith Mayor Ross Fowler OAM has presented a grant for $2000 to the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Centre, a centre that uses music therapy to engage adults and children with a disability in new creative experiences.

This year Council’s Mayoral Scholarship has supported the ongoing delivery of the Music Club, Drumming, Key Word Sign Choir and Mum’s & Bub’s programs.

Mayor Ross Fowler said Council has been an ongoing supporter of the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Centre.

“It is incredible what the staff at Nordoff-Robbins do and how music therapy helps children and adults,” Cr Fowler said.

“I had the opportunity to join in a session recently and I was as excited as the participants were in making music, singing songs and laughing together.

“Music is good for the soul and the participants in these programs respond incredibly, it’s just heart-warming to see and be a part of,” Cr Fowler said.

Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy takes its name and inspiration from Composer Paul Nordoff and special educator Clive Robbins, who developed the creative music therapy approach. Music therapy uses improvised live music to build a relationship between music therapist and participant where they interact and communicate directly through music. It is a participatory form of therapy where the power of music acts as the agent for change, growth and healing.

Nordoff-Robbins music therapy programs deliver significant and quantifiable benefits to children and adults with physical and intellectual disabilities, trauma, mental health problems, depression and learning, emotional and behavioural difficulties.

Program details:

Music Club

Music club is about supporting young people (18-30) with a disability who want to make friends and make music in a group.

The group started after a small group of school friends decided they wanted to get together after leaving school. They all loved music and so they started attending the Kingswood Centre every week and Music Club was born.

Drumming 

The human response to rhythm is a deeply engrained behaviour that is immediately engaging. Drumming brings people together, in an energetically inspiring, fun way. These groups are run at the Kingswood Centre and provide a creative outlet, release tension and offer a fun way to relax.

Key Word Sign Choir

Key Word Sign (formally Makaton) is a simplified form of signing using a small vocabulary of signs which provide visual cues to support and enhance the communication of basic concepts and language development in children and adults with communication difficulties.

Mum’s & Bub’s

The Mum’s and Bub’s program consists of interactive activities using live music to promote early childhood development and social skills.

Photo Caption: Penrith Mayor Ross Fowler OAM joins participants at Nordoff-Robbins for music therapy.

Information contained within this news release was correct as at Friday, 13 September 2019.