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| Our flagship fundraiser, the O2 Silver Clef Awards, is just around the corner (tomorrow)! We’re looking forward to many special moments, including hearing the story of Inez, told in person by her father, Julian. Another special moment we’re eagerly anticipating is the auction of George Michael’s personal Bechstein piano. You can register and live stream the auction, below! Why not stay up to date with the O2 Silver Clefs on social media tomorrow? You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. And we’d also love to invite you to TikTok, where we’ll be sharing video highlights of our flagship fundraiser! |
 “Inez was mesmerised from the start. Fraser listens, and with the piano, he’s able to articulate something that she understands. Sometimes she just gazes into his eyes.” The incredible testimony Inez’s dad, Julian, gave on his daughter’s experience of music therapy with Fraser. Watch Inez’s story, below. Watch Inez’ story |
 A very special auction of George Michael’s personal Bechstein piano With heartfelt thanks to George’s Estate, we have the privilege of hosting this auction at our O2 Silver Clef Awards. It’s open to anyone in the world, and you can live stream it on Friday 1st July at 2pm. Every penny raised will go towards music therapy. Register today  Music Mudder returns! Is your business ready to face the music (and mud)? Music Mudder returns to Surrey on Friday 2nd September, challenging brave Nordoff Robbins supporters to the mud-run of a lifetime! This messy team-building fundraiser brings music and mud together, in teams of 10! Sign up your team  Happy 80th Birthday, Macca! The Beatles Story in Liverpool (a museum dedicated to the fab four) is celebrating Sir Paul McCartney’s 80th by raising funds for us! Beatles fans can sign Paul’s digital birthday card, and Donate – bringing to life the power of music, through music therapy. Read more and donate  Raising funds for music therapy – in the name of heavy metal! 🤘 Heavy Metal Truants finally hosted their London to Download Festival cycle after 2 years of virtual events. Joining the team was Rob Rolfe from Enter Shikari, who wanted to support us after visiting our London Centre. Sponsor Rob, below! Sponsor Rob |
Tag Archives: music therapy
Nordoff Robbins May 2022 update
| Announcing our 2022 O2 Silver Clef Award Winners The O2 Silver Clef Awards return on 1st July! We’ll be honouring some of the biggest names in the music industry (including our O2 Silver Clef Award winner, the legendary Peter Gabriel!) All whilst raising hundreds of thousands in vital funding for Nordoff Robbins. Read more on who of your favourite artists have scooped an O2 Silver Clef Award, below! Read more on O2 Silver Clefs |
 Jamal Edwards MBE will be honoured at the Music Industry Trust Awards 2022 The prestigious MITs Awards 2022 will honour Jamal Edwards MBE. Jamal will be recognised for his outstanding contribution to the music industry. As a music entrepreneur, DJ and founder of the multifaceted music platform SB.TV. Read more about the MITs  Tickets now available for Legends of Rugby 2023 The star-studded Legends of Rugby event will once again return, to bring music and rugby together! Raising vital funds for Nordoff Robbins. Congratulations to the 2023 Legends, Alex Goode and Emily Scarratt. Book your exclusive table, below! Buy Legends of Rugby tickets  Get your tickets to the Rock N Roll Circus in Newcastle this June We’ve partnered with Rock N Roll Circus! The all-new touring concept that will touch down in Newcastle this June. Enjoy Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, The Libertines, Years & Years – as well as a first class circus experience. All in aid of your favourite music charity! Buy Rock N Roll Circus tickets  Our Summer School for music therapists returns in July 2022 Are you a music therapist? Join our online Summer School to learn more about the Nordoff Robbins approach to music therapy. From workshops, seminars and discussions, to inputting on leading research. We’d love to see you there! Read more about Summer School |
| Thank you for supporting Nordoff Robbins. You are helping us to create a world where through music therapy, human potential is recognised, witnessed and celebrated – regardless of profound disability, illness or social exclusion. |
Nordoff Robbins – April update on all things music
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| This month Music for Dementia and UK Music released the Power of Music Report which outlines a blueprint to use music to help transform communities and improve the nation’s health and wellbeing. We also share Richard’s music therapy story and serve up a new episode of Behind the Base with PizzaExpress. |
 Power of Music Report Did you know music therapy reduces agitation and the need for medication in 67% of people with dementia? The Power of Music Report outlines some of the outstanding academic and scientific research which illustrates the true potential of music as a therapeutic and medical tool. Read the report |
 “He just began to flourish in music” Richard, a former singer, who suffered a life-threatening stroke last year, has rediscovered his voice thanks to music therapy sessions with Nordoff Robbins. Richard and his music therapist Jo spoke to ITV News Wales about the progress they made together. Watch on ITV News  Behind the Base with L Devine Behind The Base with PizzaExpress returns with yet another musical talent. This month L Devine talks about about expression through songwriting, her first relationship and music that had strong influence, later taking to the stage to perform “Daughter”. Watch this episode  Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust award Nordoff Robbins £4k We are delighted to announce that we have received £4,000 of grant funding from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust to support music therapy at Erskine Care Home in Anniesland in the West of Scotland. Tell me more |
A social network without the toxicity and where ‘likes’ earn cash for charities
It is billed as an ethical alternative to Facebook and Instagram, which have been jointly dogged by accusations of ramping up misinformation and damaging mental health. Former Saatchi advertising maestro Dominic O’Meara wants to test his belief that a growing slice of the population is craving a life- affirming, glass-half-full outlook instead.
And with a pledge to donate over half of its earnings to charitable causes, he explained that if Supernova can coax a mere one per cent of the social media advertising market away from the big players, he’ll be handing £600m to charities every year.
“That one per cent is completely possible,” O’Meara said. “People are cheering us on: they think it’s about time someone brought an alternative to this market, and one that is ethically driven.”
Anxiety – Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) guide
They have a very easy to understand & helpful guide to anxiety here
It is tough times at the moment and anxiety & worry will be high given the current events in Ukraine, along with the pandemic, rising living costs…crikey making myself even more anxious now! Seriously though there is help out there, you must never feel you are alone as someone, somewhere will listen. I am lucky to have a supporting family, but even with that it so easy to overthink things and become anxious, which can lead to physical symptoms too.
Do try to limit your news intake each day and set aside some time for your worries at a set time of the day. Worry time as the Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) bods calls it. This blog has a good guide on it.
I may mention music a bit 🙂 but it does help me at work to concentrate and block out outside chatter about world events, which can make you feel worse and lets face it, unless you are a specialist in any area your work colleagues & friends are merely expressing opinions or social media ‘truths’.
Stay safe out there and don’t feel bad in asking for help or telling someone how you feel.
Anxious times in the office
Music on my headphones helps me cope at work big time. Why? Well, in the office you can often only hear doom ‘n’ gloom which sends my mind off in a spin and scenarios overload. I am not a pessimistic person, just that my mind loves to work on worst case scenarios!
Office environments can be both good and bad from an anxiety point of view. Good in that you have fellow colleagues around to chat too and actually see in person, as opposed to on teams/zoom. Bad is the scaremongering, and often baseless ‘facts’, they chat about. That’s fine but it does affect others who may not be saying anything and instead worrying away on the inside.
Sometimes engage the brain before speaking… Boris take note 😉
Tune of the Day – Astral Drive is songwriter and producer Phil Thornalley’s vision of a long lost album from the 1970s that only existed in his own mind. It is a wonderfully uplifting listen…
The Taerks Christmas Sunday session Sunday 12 December at 4PM EST/9pm BST
Plus broadcast live on GRTR! Radio
You better watch out, and you better not cry cause Taerkie Clause is coming to town! We’re doing a special Holiday edition of our GRTR! Sunday Sessions streaming live on Facebook and Get Ready To Rock! Radio!
Nordoff Robbins joint winner at the UK Mental Health and Wellbeing Awards 2021
Music therapist, Fraser Simpson, won the award on behalf of Nordoff Robbins for his work with our partners, Mountbatten Hospice. Mountbatten delivers hospice and end of life services across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, supporting up to 3,000 people on any one day within their own homes, as well as in the hospices buildings.
Fraser’s online work at Mountbatten Hospice during the pandemic, and in particular a song-writing/recording project with Mountbatten Young Adults group and the combined Community Choirs of Mountbatten Isle of Wight and Mountbatten Hampshire, was one of 17 shortlisted projects to be nominated for this prestigious award.
Upon accepting the award, Fraser said:
“Thank you for this award, which I am overwhelmed to receive on behalf of Nordoff Robbins, for delivering a music therapy service at Mountbatten Hospices Isle of Wight and Southampton throughout the pandemic.
For many months, Mountbatten’s very active psycho-social programme (open to the entire local community) and day, self-help and rehabilitation services had to be delivered very differently – with many of these services being delivered virtually though online services and programmes. The music therapy service moved online, offering relief from the social isolation experienced by so many. Music did its magical work of connecting, uplifting, enlivening and enabling, despite the limitations of online working.”
You can read the full article here
Nordoff Robbins 2021 Christmas Concerts
Taking place at 7pm on Tuesday 14th Dec 2021 at St Luke’s Church, Chelsea, the welcome return of the Nordoff Robbins Carol Service showcases a star-studded line up including Sir Rod Stewart – one of the most important and best-selling artists of all time, the magnetic Irish singer-songwriter Imelda May and chart-topping saxophonist and presenter Jess Gillam. With Christmas carols sung by some of the music industry’s most celebrated artists, from music giants to and coming young talent, the evening will also feature a host of celebrities giving festive readings.* Tickets are available from carols.nordoff-robbins.org.uk, priced £50.
Following the music therapy charity’s first virtual Christmas event in 2020, Nordoff Robbins is also offering music lovers who can’t attend the church the opportunity to come together to experience the Christmas magic by watching ‘The Stars Come Out To Sing At Christmas 2021’, hosted by the iconic Nile Rodgers. The free-to-view streamed concert will feature carols and readings from St Luke’s Church along with exclusive additional performances from stars around the world, which fans can access at 7pm GMT on Sunday 19th December via carols.nordoff-robbins.org.uk. Donations are encouraged throughout this very special festive evening to enable Nordoff Robbins’ dedicated music therapists to support those who need it most to experience the joy and power of music – helping communication and reducing isolation.
Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy is delighted to have Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited as a funding partner for the second year.
The online concert will be supported by London Stock Exchange through streaming on its Issuer Services Spark (https://www.lsegissuerservices.com/spark). Spark is a digital platform that enables London Stock Exchange clients and partners to distribute a range of digital and thought leadership content.
More News
September update from Nordoff Robbins
 Free online musical learning with FutureLearn  There are two courses available, one focusing on learning more about music therapy and Nordoff Robbins, the other using music in a care setting. Amongst many other benefits, these free online courses could help you learn musical skills, understand the benefits of music and help the people you work with through using music. Find out more about the online courses The Specsavers Scottish Music Awards returns in November  The Specsavers Scottish Music Awards returns on Saturday 13 November with performances from The Fratellis, Nathan Evans and Nina Nesbitt, live from Glasgow’s famous Barrowland. And even if you’re not in Scotland, you can see some of Scotland’s finest musical talent and watch it live right from your home. Find out how you can watch the SMAs Brand new epsisodes of our podcast out now  Presented by DJ Chris Hawkins and music therapist, Louise Gregg, Three Track Therapy is all about the power of music. With stars such as Frank Turner, Colette Cooper and more, each episode sees a different musician open up about the importance of music and the three tracks that have had the biggest influence on their life. Listen to the latest episode today Open evening for our Master’s this Thursday (30 September)  If you’ve ever thought about a career in music therapy, or know someone who is interested, our open evenings are a great way to find out more and ask questions about the Master of Music Therapy programme, or the Sony Music Bursary. Sign up to the online open evening On Stage at Home Live! is back for three online sessions  On Stage at Home Live! is back for three more online musical sessions on Monday 11 October, Monday 18 October and Monday 25 October. And not only will music therapist, Emily, Tiny and Small Clanger be involved, but we have a very special guest coming along too. So if you have children under 5, or know someone that does, why not come along, sing, clap and make some music with us. Find out more and sign up today Musical resources for your home  We want to add musical value to your life, which is why we’ve created a suite of musical resources for you, your family or friends which are inclusive and accessible to all. Learn about our musical resources As a charity we receive no government funding, so we rely on the generosity and support of people like you, our supporters. Here are a few ways you can help Nordoff Robbins and the people we help. Fund music for others – you can make a one-off donation or become a regular giver to Nordoff Robbins here. Share your music therapy stories – We would love to hear your stories of how music therapy has helped you or a somebody you know. You can share your story here. Spread the word – We would love you to share our news with your friends and family and encourage them to sign up to our newsletter. We hope you stay safe and are looking after yourself. The Nordoff Robbins team |
Fifty Gigs In A Day 