Newcastle Music Therapy in Newcastle, New South Wales | Music school

Newcastle Music Therapy

Locality: Newcastle, New South Wales

Phone: +61 490 361 628

Address: 16/363 Hillsborough Rd Warners Bay 2284 Newcastle, NSW, Australia

Website: http://www.newcastlemusictherapy.com.au

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• Medical and health
• Speech pathologist
• Disability service
• Music school

25.01.2022 Did you know that art therapists in Australia are registered by the Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association? @anzacata is the peak professional body that represents creative arts therapists in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia/Pacific region. Check out their latest video explaining Creative Arts Therapy and ANZACATA's role:

24.01.2022 It's been a tough year, but ABC Classic are planning to end 2020 with an uplifting singalong - and they need YOUR voice! You can join the Classic Choir and give the debut performance of "Christmas With You", a new carol commissioned especially by the ABC from Deborah Cheetham AO, a Yorta Yorta soprano and composer. Just sign up here: https://www.abc.net.au/classic/events/classic-choir/sign-up/ then film yourself singing the carol and upload it to the ABC Classic website before 27 November. On the 15th of December ABC Classic will release the full song.

23.01.2022 MEET THE TEAM Introducing Stef Tuyl! Stef is completing her music therapy degree this year, and is currently doing her final placement with us. You'll see her face around the clinic on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Outside of her studies, Stef conducts the Brain Waves choir for people who have survived a stroke. She also performs in Dolce, a trio with her sisters Lara and Annie.... Favourite style of music? Acoustic pop - anything with a catchy melody and well written lyrics really. Favourite musical artists? Too many to choose from! Top 5 would be Ziggy Alberts, Kate Miller-Heidke, Hozier, The Cat Empire, Maisie Peters. Favourite song? And So It Goes, Billy Joel. Why you got into music therapy and why you started playing music - I was born into a musical family and have been able to sing before I could talk (well, so my mum tells me anyway!) To be honest, I didn't really have a choice with why I started playing music; it was just something that my two older sisters and I did from a very young age. Luckily I enjoyed it and have been playing music and singing in choirs ever since! I discovered music therapy when I finished by Music/Arts degree and was searching for a way that I could use my musical talent to connect with people on a deeper level, and in a less self-indulgent way than what you do as a performing artist. I was drawn to the idea of using music as a resource to help people achieve optimal health. When I realised there was a way to combine my passions of playing music and connecting with people to improve their health and wellbeing, a career as a music therapist was a no-brainer! Most rewarding aspect of your job - Being able to form meaningful connections with clients and offer them a safe space to use music to express things that are often difficult to put into words.

23.01.2022 As Newcastle Music Therapy starts to ease back into face-to-face sessions, we would like to reassure you that we are committed to providing a safe environment for all clients and staff. We are following the guidelines of Safe Work Australia to ensure our practice meets all Work Health and Safety requirements to minimise the risks associated with COVID-19. Some of the changes we have implemented include:... - cleaning our therapy equipment after each session and cleaning the clinic surfaces at the end of each day - placing helpful signs regarding handwashing and how to sanitise your hands around our practice - placing markers around the clinic to create 1.5m social distancing while you wait for your session - practicing good hygiene as staff members - providing hand sanitiser, soap and antibacterial spray and wipes for the use of both staff and clients If a therapist is unwell we will ensure we cancel your session. If the therapist is well enough to provide telehealth sessions, you will have the option of doing so. Similarly, if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms we ask you to please cancel your session or contact us to switch to a telehealth session. As always, you can contact us on 0410 834 885 or [email protected] if you have any questions or queries. We're so excited to see your smiling faces in person again!

23.01.2022 If you find yourself in Sydney, you should check out this amazing mural, "Love owls and mermaids singing in the rainbow pop", that's now in the foyer of the Art Gallery of New South Wales! It's by artists from studio A, a supported studio based in Sydney that provides artists living with intellectual disability with a working studio space equipped with specialist materials, support staff and more. In the below video from ABC News you'll meet the artists responsible for this mammoth artwork, as well as fellow Studio A artist Emily Crockford whose self portrait was selected for the 2020 Archibald Prize.

22.01.2022 How cool is this? This amazing mural is by indigenous artist Dion Beasley, who has muscular dystrophy and is profoundly deaf. Dion discovered his artistic ability through his disability carer at school, and is now part of the 2020 Darwin Street Art Festival!

22.01.2022 Today is International Day of People with a Disability! This week, we'll be sharing stories of people with a disability who are using music and art in amazing ways. Handball is an evolving interview project on ABC Hobart, where each person interviewed elects the next person in the chain.... Last week's Handball guest was Rubie Gallagher, an artist who is re-learning how to paint after an an accident which left her with quadriplegia. Now, after learning to use entirely different muscles, she has enough movement in her arms to paint beautiful watercolours. Click the link below to hear Rubie's story:

22.01.2022 Have you been wondering what exactly art therapy is - and how it differs from an art class? One of the main differences is that art therapy sessions are run by an Art Therapist who has completed a minimum two year masters degree with a component of 750 supervised clinical hours placement, and who is registered with the Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association ANZACATA. This article from Canadian art therapists at Art As Therapy has a great breakdown of art therapy vs art classes:

21.01.2022 Registered Music Therapists (RMT) can target a range of goals through Music Therapy when working with people who have disabilities - to find out more, head to the AMTA website: https://www.austmta.org.au/

21.01.2022 COVID-19 cases are popping up in the Hunter region again, so in addition to the COVID safety measures already in place at Newcastle Music Therapy we have also introduced temperature checking! When you enter our clinic, we will be checking your temperature - the official recommendation is that if your temperature is above 37.4 C you need to stay at home until your temperature drops or you have received a negative COVID test. It’s an easy and fast procedure, with no contact bei...ng made when we use our infrared thermometer. Please remember to contact us before your appointment if you are experiencing any symptoms related to potential COVID-19 - fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, fatigue - or if you have travelled to an area with confirmed COVID-19 cases in the past 14 days. We are committed to keeping you safe while we continue to deliver our music and art therapy services and our music lessons! You can call us on 0410 834 885 or email [email protected] if you’d like to discuss our approach to stopping the spread of COVID.

21.01.2022 Have you been to the John Hunter Hospital recently? You might have noticed artworks by Deafblind artist Joseph Formosa, which are on display in the NAIDOC Exhibition 2020, part of the HNE Health Arts for Health Program. Joseph's grandfather was part of the Yuin nation from the New South Wales south coast. Joseph is profoundly deaf and has only 3 per cent vision. He photographs sea life and then enlarges it on his computer in order to sketch and paint the sea life in a tradit...ional indigenous dot style. Check out Joseph's artwork and story on ABC Newcastle's website:

18.01.2022 This Thursday is International Day of People with a Disability! This week, we'll be sharing stories of people with a disability who are using music and art in amazing ways. You'll definitely be familiar with Elly-May Barnes' father's work, but did you know that Jimmy's youngest daughter is an accomplished musician as well?... As she tours the country with her dad's band, Elly-May encounters all sorts of roadblocks when it comes to disability access backstage and on stage. Elly-May has cerebral palsy, so sometimes will need extra help from her fellow musos and roadies in order to get up on a stage when it's only accessible via steps. Read more of Elly-May's story at this link below:

17.01.2022 Having trouble explaining COVID-19 precautions? The team at Autism Little Learners have put together story books to help explain changes brought about by COVID-19. The topics include "Coronavirus, What Is It?", "Wearing A Mask" and "What Is Social Distancing?". Check out the stories here:

16.01.2022 Our Virtual Disability Expo is FREE to all attendees. Sign up now to make sure you get updates about all the exciting speakers, performers and exhibitors who will be at the expo. https://socialimpact.force.com/cpbase__form

16.01.2022 Ready to start your art therapy journey? Click the link below to fill out our art therapy referral form:

15.01.2022 Such a privilege to make music with everyone at Five Islands School.

15.01.2022 Do you think you could benefit from art therapy? You might be looking for something to help you through the chaos of every day life. Or a way to help you express yourself. ... Or a complimentary treatment to use with your current treatment. Fill out the art therapy referral form on our website, and incorporate art therapy into your routine: https://www.newcastlemusictherapy.com.au/referrals/

15.01.2022 Have you ever wanted to learn more about the brass section of the orchestra? Check out Kids Music Cafe, part of the Sydney Opera House digital season! It’s 20 minutes of musical fun (and maybe some learning too!):

15.01.2022 Happy Monday! Here's a gorgeous video showing the power of music to start your week off with a smile

14.01.2022 Our June newsletter is here! In this edition - art therapy, COVID-19 restrictions easing, and more sessions times for music lessons! Not subscribed yet? Click here to sign up: https://mailchi.mp/bd05b7f7d1cd/nmtnewsletter

14.01.2022 Newcastle Music Therapy is about to get a whole lot more creative! We are now offering art therapy with registered art therapist Katishe Grudnoff! Art therapy is similar to music therapy in terms of the areas it works on - it's a nonverbal creative therapy, but obviously uses art and artmaking in place of music. No art making skills are necessary - sessions follow your interests and abilities to reach your identified goals. Art therapy is all about the process - not the end ...product - supporting a playful, experimental approach to art making that decreases the anxiety of creating something that is "perfect". As with music therapy, art therapy is covered by the NDIS under the support cluster of Capacity Building Daily Activity Therapeutic Supports Item No 15_048_0128_1_3, individual assessment, therapy and/or training. MEET THE TEAM Katishe Grudnoff - Registered Art Therapist Favourite art style? I love expressive art that tells a story and provides a little window into the artist’s world. Favourite artist/s? I love Beatrice Wood. She was a ceramic artist from the Dada movement and she said anyone can do modern art. She was a strong, hilarious and progressive woman. Favourite medium? Clay is my favourite medium to work with at home. I love making surrealist figurative sculpture. Favourite song? My favourite singer song writer at the moment is Montaigne. Glorious Heights is an amazing song. How long have you been making art? I can’t remember ever not making art. It’s been a life long relationship really. I started scribbling as a toddler and I’m still scribbling. Why did you become an art therapist? Because I strongly believe that art making is for everyone and it is inherently therapeutic. It can support people to tell their stories in ways words just cannot. Coupling art making with psychotherapeutic training can create great change. Most rewarding part of your job? I love connecting with people who find it difficult to feel safe and trust others. There is something that happens when people are given permission to experiment, be playful and create. Their hands become busy, barriers come down and genuine connections are made. They are the golden moments of my work and make all the challenges worthwhile. Welcome Katishe!

13.01.2022 Did you know that there are changes to the way you can use your NDIS Core Supports budget? The increased pressures caused by COVID-19 mean that a lot more of us are needing to change the way we budget our funds. Check out the video below to find out more, and visit https://www.ndis.gov.au//participants-co/using-your-budget for FAQs on how to use your budget:

13.01.2022 You don’t need any previous training to meditate through art, just a willingness to draw like a child, with freedom and a sense of curiosity. Amy Maricle, an artist, art therapist and founder of Mindful Art Studio. Read more about being mindful when making art here:

13.01.2022 A meeting of music therapy and art therapy, perhaps?

13.01.2022 Using the internet when you have an intellectual disability can be a daunting task, and while website developers are trying to make websites more accessible it can still be a struggle to find the information you need - especially when your mental health is at stake. The Black Dog Institute have worked with a team from the University of New South Wales to develop an accessible website called Healthy Mind. Black Dog says that "Healthy Mind is an online Easy Read tool designed ...to help people with Intellectual Disability (ID) to recognise and regulate their thoughts and feelings." It's aimed at adults with a mild to borderline ID, and can be accessed for free. Click the link below to get started:

11.01.2022 Thank you Love Parenting Newcastle for sharing this. A beautiful example of what we are often doing in music therapy to promote connection, validation & interaction. Gorgeous!

10.01.2022 The power of music! A gorgeous song and story from 16 year old Tyler, a non-verbal student from WA:

10.01.2022 Today is World Make Music Day!! Due to Covid restrictions many of the planned community events have been moved online. Click on the link to join in the music ev...ents from the comfort of your own home. Or just put on your favourite song, dance and sing and celebrate the beauty of music with your family https://makemusicaustralia.org.au/events/ See more

10.01.2022 Happy Monday! We have new spots opening up for art therapy in 2021! If you’re looking for a holistic therapy approach, a way to explore feelings that are difficult to verbalise, and/or a creative way to improve motor skills and physical coordination, art therapy might be right for you! Email us at [email protected] or call 0490 361 628 to find out more information.... (Image: abstract orange and red flowers with blue and green stalks on a green background, with the words Growing - Changing - Perfectly Imperfect in blue - paint and oil pastel artwork)

09.01.2022 How amazing is this video?! We love seeing how music can bring people together, even when we're social distancing!

08.01.2022 Our art therapist, Katishe, is adding some colour to our clinic - but we need your help! Next time you’re in for your session, grab a leaf and a pen and write down what music therapy or art therapy mean to you. You can also write on the sky if a leaf isn’t big enough for your thoughts! Your contributions will combine to create a gorgeous tree that will be hung on our wall

08.01.2022 We love this! A great crash course in Auslan thanks to ABC Australia:

08.01.2022 Look, we can't promise you real live chickens when you come to music therapy - but we can promise that you'll love music as much as these chooks do!

07.01.2022 MEET THE TEAM As your demand for art therapy grows, so does our team! Introducing Miriam Saines, our new Registered Art Therapist! Miriam has joined us on Mondays for the rest of this year, and will be adding more days to her schedule in 2021!... We're so excited to be able to expand our art therapy services, and to have Miriam bring her talents and experience to our clinic. Welcome, Miriam! Favourite art style? I love art that challenges me to see the world through someone else’s eyes. I also love art that moves me to feel something. Favourite artist/s? I love Sally Morgan’s art. She is an Australian Aboriginal artist and author. Her use of colour is breathtaking, and her images are filled with story, history and her connection to country. Favourite medium? I am really enjoying water colour painting this year. Favourite song? I’m quite obsessed with Josh Pyke’s music at the moment. His song ‘Fill You In’ is one of my favourites, particularly the version from his Live At The Sydney Opera House album. How long have you been making art? Forever. When I was a kid I found school work to be challenging, so my refuge was in art making and expressing myself creatively. I found that when I made art, it felt good and I could be myself. Why did you become an art therapist? I always wanted to do something creative, but I didn’t want to be a professional artist. When I heard about art therapy, when I was a teenager, even though I didn’t know what it was, I instantly knew that I wanted to be an art therapist. Most rewarding part of your job? This is a tough one to answer, because there is so much that is rewarding about my job. I love witnessing people find their innate creativity for the first time. This creativity exists within all of us, and does not have to be perfect, or pretty or technically ‘good’. People will often begin art therapy by saying that they aren’t good at art or that they don’t have a creative bone in their body. There is this beautiful shift, that is magical to witness, that happens when people lean into the creative process, instead of focusing on the final art product or aesthetic. Their art making shifts to focus on self-expression, exploration, mindfulness, and the self-regulating experience of art making. Through this process based art experience, people begin to experience what it is like to be truly themselves; to be allowed to make mistakes, to be perfectly imperfect, and to still be accepted, safe and valued. It is an absolute honour to hold this space for people, and to build the trusting relationship that allows this growth to happen.

07.01.2022 We’re so excited to begin offering individual art therapy sessions at our Warners Bay clinic next week! Are you wondering what art therapy is, or whether it would suit you? Head to our website to find out more:

07.01.2022 Need a tiny dose of art therapy in your day? This drawing exercise from artist and illustrator Edie Fake's 'The Diary Project' is a great way to introduce a little bit of mindful art practice into your routine. Remember that it's not about being "perfect" or making a "good drawing" - it's about getting in touch with your emotions, and expressing yourself through your drawing.... Bonus - it also doubles as a daily gardening exercise!

06.01.2022 Wondering how art therapy works? In this video, Debbie explains what happens in her art therapy sessions, and how it has helped her to express her emotions and work through problems. "Because I'm a visual learner it helped me to be able to put it into perspective. And then she would let me draw out how I was feeling, helped me to process the emotions that I was going through, put things into an order. So that I could go back to my psychiatrist and explain to him, and show him pictures, so that it was a visual thing for him to see as well."

06.01.2022 Our Tuesday’s start in the best way - with music therapy at Lakeside School! Check out this awesome video they have shared:

06.01.2022 Check out this awesome video that our art therapist, Katishe Grudnoff, has put together in support of a petition to revise of the definition of Mental Health Practitioner in the 2014 Victorian Mental Health Act to include 'Professional Arts Therapist'. Currently, the definition of Mental Health Practitioner in the 2014 Victorian Mental Health Act does not mention Professional Arts Therapists. This means that arts therapists are unable to help fill important roles, such as the new Mental Health Practitioner in Schools positions being rolled out throughout Victoria. Click here to watch Katishe’s video, and if you’d like to sign the petition you can find the link here as well:

06.01.2022 "As an art psychotherapist working with children, I find the idea of artwork becoming a 'third person' in a session particularly important...This dialogue between therapist, child and artwork helps to make the process feel safer, so it becomes possible to gently turn on the lights of those dark rooms they avoid."

05.01.2022 Always wanted to get into art, but not sure where to start? Why not take a tour of our very own Newcastle Art Gallery? There are two exhibitions for you to explore - "PAINTING MEMORY: From the collection" and "EVERYTHING CHANGES: Tim Maguire 2002 - 2017".

04.01.2022 It's #NAIDOCWeek! Check out this amazing artwork designed by Tyrown Waigana, a Noongar and Saibai Islander man, which is not only featured on the 2020 National NAIDOC Poster, Shape of Land, but is also lighting up the National Carillon in Canberra all this week! "Tyrown’s artwork tells the story of how the Rainbow Serpent came out of the Dreamtime to create this land. It is represented by the snake and it forms the shape of Australia, which symbolises how it created our lands.... The colour from the Rainbow Serpent is reflected on to the figure to display our connection to the Rainbow Serpent, thus our connection to country. The overlapping colours on the outside is the Dreamtime. The figure inside the shape of Australia is a representation of Indigenous Australians showing that this country - since the dawn of time - Always Was, Always Will Be Aboriginal Land." - from naidoc.org.au #NAIDOC2020 #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe

04.01.2022 Looking for school holiday creativity? MAC - Museum of Art and Culture Lake Macquarie are running portrait drawing workshops for kids aged 7+ with talented local artist Lana Mansfield. The workshop is $10 per person, and bookings are essential - click here to book: https://bit.ly/3kJO6Z1

04.01.2022 Many new mothers and carers will sing to newborns, but what impact does this have on attachment? This study shows that singing facilitates a flow of interconnec...tions between positive mental and emotional states. It also shows that singing promotes feelings of togetherness. This article is from the AMTA Australian Journal of Music Therapy, an article from Australian Registered Music Therapist (RMT) Alison Creighton (RMT, PhD). AJMT is an open access journal, which means that anyone is able to view all articles throughout the archives for free: www.austmta.org.au//singing-play-songs-and-lullabies-inves

03.01.2022 We are absolutely loving your contributions to our artwork! Some are short and sweet, some are long and lovely (and some are just plain silly!). Every single one expresses what music therapy, art therapy and music lessons mean to you. If you haven't added to our artwork yet, don't worry - it's waiting in the foyer for your next visit! We can't wait to see more of your thoughts and feelings filling up the space

02.01.2022 To celebrate #NAIDOCWeek2020, Awabakal Ltd are hosting a night of live music and performances on their Facebook page! It all kicks off tonight at 6pm with hosts and M.C.s Rod Smith & Sharnee Fenwick. You'll be treated to performances from Uncle John Ridgeway, Wakakulang, Bud Kelly & Adam Manning, Nu Roads, P.J Gordon, Kelsey Iris, Sharnee Fenwick, Loren Ryan, Microwave Jenny, Murringgaahdi, Jacob Ridgeway, Bow and Arrow and new sensation Dobby. If you're keen for live and local music, click the event link below to find out more information, and to save the event:

01.01.2022 Are you ready to launch your art into the world? The 2020 Challenge Community Services Art Competition is open to people with disability of all ages, and young people in foster care throughout NSW. All you need to do is create an artwork using the theme of "Out of this World" as your inspiration. Entries close on Friday 13 November 2020 at 5:00pm - click this link to find the entry form and all of the details you'll need to enter the contest: https://pages.challengecommunity.org.au/art-competition-202

01.01.2022 Our artwork is complete! Thank you to everyone who added their words and pictures to our collaboration. We have everything from quotes to sketches to Braille! Keep an eye out for more artworks popping up around our building...