New NDIS and aged care music therapy capacity: Welcome Emma

Please join us in welcoming Emma to the Attuned Health team. Emma is passionate about the capacity of music therapy to centre our shared humanity in spaces where our sense of self and connection to others might feel stripped away. Her practice focuses on creating spaces where people feel supported enough to express themselves in a safe and authentic ways while musicking together!

We asked Emma a few questions to help you get to know her. Please join us in welcoming her when you see her in the community.

1. What did you study / what are your degrees and qualifications?
   I was involved in a lot of music and creative arts all throughout school, but ended up detouring to do a Bachelor of Nursing and worked as a registered nurse across various areas for 5 years until 2016. Since then, I have worked as a music educator (piano, guitar and groups) and am trained as a Kindermusik educator. I also have an Advanced Diploma in Art Therapy and a Certificate 3 and 4 in fitness!

2.  What do you love about being a music therapist?

   There is so much I love but what comes to mind is how individualised music therapy can be, which often shapes the music therapy process to be profoundly meaningful and impactful for participants. I love being creative and imaginative, which blends very well with music therapy.

3. Is there a specific music therapy moment that has stuck with your or shaped your practice?
   My final university placement was at the Burns Department at Perth Children’s Hospital. I got to create moments of connection, cal and co-regulation in scary and painful hospital experiences for patients and their caregivers, as well as supporting medical and allied health staff; it was very profound for me. It reinforced to me how integral building a sense of safety and connection is, for ourselves and our participants. It is an honour to support people through challenging times through music therapy interventions.

4. What is one thing you wish people knew about music therapy?
   We are an allied health profession! And we can stand on our own, but we also make really great teams with OT’s, speechies, physios and more.
   

5. What music or instruments do you like to play and listen to?
   I started piano lessons from age 7, and am trained in classical and contemporary. I loved to compose my own pieces from a young age. I learnt guitar from age 12 inspired by Aussie music such as John Butlter Trio and Powderfinger. I played trumpet in jazz band in highschool which gave me a love of jazz and big band swing. I was part of a Brazilian Samba-inspired community drumming group for over 10 years; we performed overseas including Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

   I have a very mixed bag of music that I listen to, but I will always come back to: nostalgic 90’s (Savage Garden, Backstreet Boys), 2000s punk-pop and Britpop (Fall Out Boy, Green Day, Coldplay and Bloc Party); and Taylor Swift (Big Swiftie here!) I love a driving guitar rhythm and powerful drums, but I also love gentle acoustic. I also enjoy music across the decades, including Elvis, the Beatles, The Bee Gees, Elton John, The Eagles, Tracey Chapman, Fleetwood Mac, Crowded House, ABBA! Currently enjoying exploring new aussie indie artists.

6. Tell us something we might not know about you…
   I have a twin sister, I love Lord of the Rings, and I have adopted two bunnies named Rocky and Raisin. I was diagnosed with ADHD at age 36!

My future goal is to…grow, learn and develop my music therapy skills across a range of contexts. I would like to be a part of bringing more visibility to music therapy in general and particularly in Western Australia. I’d like to explore music and mental health, perhaps do a PhD! It’s a far-off dream, but to help set up a place to study Master of Music Therapy here in WA would be incredible to see in my lifetime!