Music was a love of mine since I was a toddler & I used to watch children dancing at my local dance school, before I was allowed to join in when I was 3. Our dance teacher would describe a stream of water we should imagine running our fingers through and then holding our hand up to see the water drops in the sunlight, as our pianist played.  The music evoked these images clearly in my mind, like magic and I felt the power of music long before I learned to play any instrument myself. I was lucky to begin free violin lessons in school when I was 8 and always loved music’s capacity to convey emotions beyond and without the need for words.

For me, music was always an internal joy and though I loved music, I didn’t know how I could use it in life.  I studied for a maths degree and soon after, learned about music therapy.  I feel lucky I discovered music therapy, as what better way to use music than to use its power to help others express themselves as music allowed me to do from when I was tiny.  I began volunteering in a local special school, then trained at Anglia Ruskin University to become a music therapist.

In my work for MusicPlace, I am always aiming to provide a space where children and adults can express themselves through their music, sounds & choices and feel their music is heard.  In music therapy sessions, I always start from the client’s sounds and choices or whatever they bring to their session.  Through music I try to encourage exploration of areas such as self awareness and awareness of others, communication, self expression, focus, motor skills and confidence.  

At the heart of my work, it is always a joy to connect with the wonderful people I work with through making music together. It’s always a delight to be reminded of the fun that can be found in connecting & communicating through music together and the infinite possibilities music holds to express who we are.