Despite a serious disability, the capacity to respond to music may remain unimpaired, and the communicative potential of music can therefore be utilised.

Music is a form of expressive communication. All of us have used music at some point in our lives to relax, dance to, or to sing along with. Music can open us to diverse emotions: happiness, sadness, anger, excitation, it can make us feel secure, relaxed, or powerful.

“Music is essentially an emotional experience and can be as wide and varied as the human condition. It can encompass all heights and depths […] all shades of feeling. It can lead or accompany the psyche through all conditions […] superficial and relatively commonplace — or profound and deeply personal.” – Aigen 1996

Music therapy uses improvised music as the main tool for communication. Initially this will help to interact with the client(s) and build the therapeutic relationship. From here, music and other forms of communication will carry out the therapeutic goals; as an example, these can include self–expression, increased self–esteem, increased self–awareness and increased ability to interact with others.

Do I need to know how to play an instrument?

You don't need any prior musical experience or training to partake in music therapy. People of all abilities can benefit from this form of therapy.

Where does music therapy take place?

The service covers a large area encompassing Edinburgh and the Lothians, all of the necessary equipment, including instruments, will be brought to the location of the client(s).

What is the structure of a music therapy session?

Sessions can be for individuals or small groups of up to 6 people. Tailored to suit the individual needs of the client or group, a music therapy session may include improvised or pre–composed music and can last up to an hour.

Jenny completed her BA Hons degree in Music at Leeds University in 2005 and has been living and working in Scotland since then.

Even before beginning her music therapy training, Jenny volunteered to work in Morocco with disadvantaged children with a range of disabilities. In this context, she was able to provide musical activities in a day centre and a school with a unit for children with disabilities.

Jenny studied music therapy at Queen Margaret University culminating in an MSc (Nordoff-Robbins) in July 2010. Her work experience during the course was varied and included a placement in a primary school for children with learning disabilities and autistic spectrum disorder, and work with adults with dementia and physical and learning disabilities.

Jenny currently works at a council-run adult day centre in Edinburgh and also attends to private clients around Edinburgh and the Lothians. Her clients display a wide range of conditions, including global developmental delay, learning disabilities, dementia, autistic spectrum disorder, neuro-degenerative disorders, Down's Syndrome and Locked-In syndrome.

In her spare time, Jenny can sometimes be seen performing in orchestras or less formal groups with her 'cello and regularly teaches piano and 'cello on a one-to-one basis.