Support Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy

1. Music is an intrinsic part of life and a universal language

Human Services - General Human Services

Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy is the UK’s largest specialist music therapy charity, providing over 30,000 therapy sessions a year through its National Centre in London and over 40 outreach projects nationwide. It also runs postgraduate training programmes in music therapy and a research programme with regular public courses and conferences.

Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy uses live musical improvisation to help improve the quality of life for children and adults isolated by conditions such as learning disabilities, autism, mental health problems, neurological damage or serious and terminal illness.

The Nordoff-Robbins approach to music therapy developed from the pioneering work of Paul Nordoff and Clive Robbins in the 1950/60s. Paul was a composer and pianist who devoted part of his life to working with people with disabilities and Clive was a special needs teacher.

It is grounded in the belief that everyone can respond to music, no matter how ill or disabled. The unique qualities of music as therapy can enhance communication, support change, and enable people to live more resourcefully and creatively.

In therapy, clients are invited to improvise music on simple instruments with a trained music therapist. The therapist helps them to use these improvisations to bring about positive changes in their area of need, be they physical, emotional, neurological or developmental.

Nordoff-Robbins Music therapy is a registered charity (number 280960) and receives no statutory funding.

We need to fund raise almost £3m every year to continue to operate. For every £1 that we are successful in raising, 85p will go towards music therapy.

For more information go to www.nordoff-robbins.org.uk