Suffolk Music Therapy Services

Suffolk Music Therapy Services We provide professional music therapy to children & adults across East Anglia. What is Music Therapy? Music is all around us. Music can affect our mood.

Music forms our heritage, culture, identity and spiritual beliefs. We have music played at football matches, in shopping centres, churches and on the television. Music is a powerful medium which can affect us all deeply. It may help us to relax when we have had a long day at work or school. Alternatively, it can stimulate and motivate us when we are at the gym or a party. Music therapy is based on

the understanding that everyone of us is musical - we are all able to respond to music, no matter what our age, impairment or psychological situation. Both children and adults with a wide range of needs and difficulties make use of music therapy. Therapists work with both individuals and small groups. Those who benefit from music therapy may include people who experience:
• Acquired disabilities (e.g. stroke)
• Autistic spectrum disorders
• Dementia
• Depression
• Emotional and behavioural difficulties
• Impact of old age
• Learning disabilities
• Life-limiting illness
• Neurological impairment
• Trauma
• Sensory impairment
• Speech and language disorders

Music therapy is a process through which children and adults can express themselves, become aware of their feelings and interact more easily. Through making music with the therapist, a range of benefits may be achieved. The music therapist is trained to improvise music spontaneously with the child or adult. Through improvised music-making an immediate and personal relationship begins to form. There are no 'right' or 'wrong' notes in music therapy. Instead, the person is encouraged to use a variety of musical instruments to find their own personal 'voice' and to develop listening, communicating and relating. The therapist, a highly skilled and trained musician - accompanies and supports the person in their development. The therapist listens and responds to the person through the improvised music. Together the person and their therapist build a shared understanding through their music-making and this informs the aims and intentions for the therapy. The aims of music therapy are tailored to the needs of each individual, but might include:
o Music therapy provides a means of communication and self expression, when words are either not an option or are inadequate. o Music therapy may lead to increased interaction and concentration for individuals with communication difficulties. o Music therapy can raise self-esteem, confidence and dignity, because there can be a real sense of achievement in making music. o It gives control and choice for people who have very little or no control over other aspects of their lives. o Music therapy can help to lower anxiety levels and encourage improvement in co-ordination skills, because music can be a great motivator. o Music therapy adds a spiritual dimension and can help to give people's lives meaning and purpose. o Music therapy can provide psychological and emotional support for individuals experiencing difficult life situations (e.g. bereavement, family breakdown, depression). o It can simply bring fun and enjoyment to people who may not be able to participate in other activities. o Music therapy may help to contribute toward the health and well-being of the 'community' and individuals within.

We’re delighted to be working with British Association for Music Therapy (BAMT) and helping with a presentation and keyn...
04/08/2026

We’re delighted to be working with British Association for Music Therapy (BAMT) and helping with a presentation and keynote talk at the music therapy conference in November. Please share with anyone who may be interested!

What does the future hold for Music Therapy and how do we navigate it? Introducing our panel keynote for the conference (21-22 Nov 2026)

Navigating the Music Therapy Landscape: Considering the challenges and opportunities facing the profession in the UK

Panel: Rebecca Ellis (Jessie's Fund), Sarah Hodkinson (Shooting Star Children's Hospice), Crystal Luk-Worrall (Clap and Toot), Laura Shuttleworth (Northern Ireland Music Therapy Trust), & Ray Travasso (Suffolk Music Therapy Services)

Abstract: This roundtable keynote brings together practitioners, employers and funders to reflect, contemplate and discuss the current landscape of Music Therapy throughout the UK. In recent years, the profession has had to respond to ongoing difficulties to funding, access to services and sustainable working with increasingly creative resolutions. While the need for Music Therapy services continues to grow, ensuring equitable access for Service Users and managing capacity of Therapists continues to be a balancing act across sectors.

This panel will share their views on the challenges, but also the opportunities for the profession such as reflections on funding, health economics, impact measurement, embracing new ways of working, ensuring quality of practice and staying connected to the bigger picture.

Early bird rates for the conference have been extended to 12pm on Monday 7 September 2026. Register now: https://bamtconference.co.uk/

As the sun set over Ivy Farm, we had a fab evening singing songs and dancing with the team at Camp Jojo and 8 families f...
25/07/2026

As the sun set over Ivy Farm, we had a fab evening singing songs and dancing with the team at Camp Jojo and 8 families from East Anglia's Children's Hospices - EACH. So pleased we are able to support Camp JoJo for another year providing music therapy at every Camp this summer at Mersea Island!

20/07/2026
Huge thanks to the team at Suffolk Music Therapy Services for all your work this academic year! To celebrate the work, w...
20/07/2026

Huge thanks to the team at Suffolk Music Therapy Services for all your work this academic year! To celebrate the work, we had a team day at The Mix in Stowmarket. The morning was spent sharing examples of our work, with a lovely lunch and an afternoon vocal and wellbeing workshop led by the incredible The Musical Mentor - Sophia Ragavelas. We were also joined by CEO of British Association for Music Therapy (BAMT), Andrew Langford. Thanks everyone!

Please forward to anyone you know who may benefit! We’re proud to be working with such an amazing charity!
12/07/2026

Please forward to anyone you know who may benefit! We’re proud to be working with such an amazing charity!

The Piano series starts tonight at 9:00pm. It’s gonna be a great series! We’re supporting Grace!
12/07/2026

The Piano series starts tonight at 9:00pm. It’s gonna be a great series! We’re supporting Grace!

Grace Matthews, 19, who also lost her lower legs after meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia, will appear in the first episode of the latest series of Channel 4’s The Piano at 9pm on Sunday (12 July) presented by Claudia Winkleman at Birmingham’s New Street Station.

Wow, what a joy to see these and be able to share these special moments of music therapy. Thank you to this family for s...
11/07/2026

Wow, what a joy to see these and be able to share these special moments of music therapy. Thank you to this family for sharing 🎶🎵

We are so honoured to work with Jess Grant Celebration Fundraising and delighted to continue our work together. Thanks t...
27/06/2026

We are so honoured to work with Jess Grant Celebration Fundraising and delighted to continue our work together. Thanks to Oli for your fantastic work and the difference you have made, and will continue to make, to the lives of the young people and their families receiving treatment. 🎶

A huge thank you to everyone who has helped Jess Grant Celebration to fund music therapy for teenagers and young adults at Addenbrooke's.
The following extracts are taken from a recent article, written by Cambridge University Hospital, to put a spotlight on music therapy and to promote the new provision for young people, which Jess' charity is proud to be funding during its first year ❤
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The CUH music therapy service has been supporting paediatric patients for 21 years as part of our ongoing efforts to make extended hospital stays more positive for young patients. Recent feedback from a teenager undergoing cancer treatment highlights the difference it can make; helping him reconnect with music and the things he loves during his time in hospital.
The teenager has been having music therapy with Oli Swan, who lent him a guitar to play outside of their therapy time. The patient said it took his mind off his treatment and had a “huge impact on my mental health.”
Oli said: “It is humbling to work with teenagers and young people while they are being treated for cancer. There are a lot of patients who want to take part in music therapy sessions, which might involve playing or improvising with an instrument, or writing songs to help process their emotions.
“It is an opportunity to communicate and support their emotional wellbeing as part of their wider care, which is a privilege to be part of.
“The power of music therapy in hospital settings with children and young people is that it offers a therapeutic intervention that can feel less medical and more approachable, during a time where young patients are likely to be experiencing a lot of challenging emotions around their diagnosis and treatment.”
The service regularly receives feedback on how it enhances the paediatric patient experience and the team is looking ahead to secure ongoing support to continue this provision long-term.

So proud to be working with this amazing charity! Go Myla and Lili!
02/06/2026

So proud to be working with this amazing charity! Go Myla and Lili!

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Ipswich

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07730136604

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