Kia ora and welcome to the second newsletter of 2022. We have lots to share with you! Read about our latest news and updates below.

Team Professional Development

Celebrating a full day of professional development as a team.

What a day! We covered a wealth of topics, including Southern Music Therapy strategic plan, sharing highlights from our work, learning from recent courses, issues in therapy, mindfulness and self-care activities and of course some music making. What a nurturing day! We feel ready to work with all our clients in Term 2.

Hohepa Choir Project

The Hohepa Choir is a pilot project that originated from a desire to support the well-being of the community of Hohepa Canterbury through group music therapy. This choir uses musical instruments, dance, songwriting, and improvisation to authentically express the voice of the group. "Making new friends" and "Singing with others" were two of the most common goals from the choir members, when asked "What are you enjoying at choir the most?" The choir is run by our music therapy student Valentina Muga who is researching about the therapeutic experiences of choir members for her final Masters thesis; and by registered music therapist Jenny Lee, who improvises from the piano and supervises the project. Stay tuned to listen to the songs this group are creating!

Collaboration With The Christchurch Symphony Orchestra

Our weekly Motor Movement group at the Granada Centre in Halswell is full of motivated transitional, and community rehabilitation clients. We have been running this group for nearly a year now with physiotherapist Tiffany Banks. The aim is to engage our members to participate in their physical rehabilitation goals in a fun and enjoyable way through music. The music therapist plays familiar songs and improvised music with a strong rhythmic beat to drive the movements needed from the clients, while the physio therapists, and assistants challenge the members with the instruments. All the goals are individualized. This could be anything from a small movement in a client’s upper limb, or motivation to stand for the whole chorus of a song, to reaching and crossing the mid line and weight bearing. Our group has now partnered with some members of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra Outreach Programme and we are thoroughly enjoying this experience. We have 7 sessions left and will end with a final concert. We will be starting up another Motor Movement group later this year. If you or someone you know would be interested in being a part of a similar group contact us below for more information.

Southern Music Therapy Portal

Our online members portal went live on the 1st of March 2022. This service is usually $20+gst per year for SMT clients but for this year will be free. Get in touch if you haven't received the password yet. This is also available to non SMT Clients at a cost of $50 +gst per year.

Zoom / Telehealth

All our therapists are trained in Telehealth. We can do individual and group sessions over Zoom when in person sessions are not possible, including when self isolating. If you would like more information around this and how it works, get in touch and we can help you set up. 

Percussion Instruments Wanted!

If you have any good quality percussion instruments or music stands that you no longer need, please get in touch with us, we will put them to good use in our clinic spaces!

Three Ways To Help Us

SMT aims to provide a client-centered, collaborative and sustainable music therapy practice.We invest in our clients, by adapting our business model to reflect what their needs are. We strive to build a resilient business, to provide a quality music therapy service. However the current COVID situation has been challenging for everyone, with sickness and isolation periods peaking in Christchurch in the last few weeks.

Here are 3 ways you can help us to continue thriving;

1. Need to cancel? Let us know early.

2. We have reserved the session for you and will need to charge if sufficient notice is not given. Telehealth (online) sessions are an option, so if you need to isolate please let our therapists know.

3. Prompt payment of invoices is much appreciated. We may need to apply late charges if invoices are not paid on time.

Thank you so much, we know that you will understand and that this is really important to provide a sustainable therapy practice.

Term Dates 2022

Life at Orange

Please visit https://covid19.govt.nz/ for the latest information

Please contact us about our Covid 19 policy.

Our Venues

The Granada Centre 26 Nash Road, Halswell, Christchurch 8025

Hohepa Canterbury: 23 Barrington Street Cashmere, Christchurch 8024

The Village @ Bryndwr: 365a Ilam Road Bryndwr