Glissando

15/07/2025

I am SO passionate about music therapy, and I love that I get to share more with you about this amazing practice.

At its core, music therapy involves the therapeutic use of music and its elements – such as rhythm, melody, harmony, and lyrics – to promote positive change.

It’s more than just listening to music for relaxation or entertainment, as it is a goal-oriented process led by a trained professional.

So to keep it simple - my goal as a Music Therapist is to help you reach your goals - whatever they may be.

Are you ready to learn more about music therapy? Make sure you follow

13/07/2025

The best part of incorporating music therapy into your child’s ADHD diagnosis is it gives them a safe and non-judgemental space to be THEMSELVES.

In doing so, it gives you as their caregiver the space to breathe and be supported in your own journey to support them.

As the old saying goes, 'you can't fill from an empty cup'!

Are you ready to learn more about how music therapy might be able to help your family on your ADHD journey? Make sure you follow to learn more.

10/07/2025

If you come to a session at my studio, you might be greeted at the door by my trusty assistant, Willow 🐶

Willow has been with me for 6.5 years! She’s my Seeing Eye Dog and she’s never far from my side.

If you’ve met Willow, you’d know she is SUPER friendly, isn’t shy to get in front of the camera and loves lots of pats and attention.

But don’t worry, if you or your child isn’t a ‘dog person’, just let me know in our initial phone consultation, and I’ll make sure she doesn’t attend our session.

I’ve already had PLENTY of requests for more ‘Willow Content’, so don’t fear, I’ll be sharing more about her on my page over coming weeks. Make sure you give me a follow to stay up to date with Willow Content 😉

04/07/2025

Sometimes you just need to drum, crash and beat what ever you’re feeling out…

And that’s where percussion instruments truly shine in music therapy, particularly for children with ADHD 🎶

Some benefits of using percussion instruments in our music therapy sessions include…

✅ percussion instruments provide structured rhythmic patterns that can help children with ADHD improve their concentration and to stay engaged

✅ drumming and rhythmic play offer a physical outlet for excess energy, helping children manage impulsivity and develop greater control over their movements and emotions

✅playing percussion in group settings encourages turn-taking, listening, and cooperation, supporting the development of social interaction and expressive communication in a fun, non-verbal way

But let’s be real, sometimes it just feels GOOD to get to have fun with instruments, right? LIKE this post if you agree 🫶🏽

01/07/2025

The best part about music therapy is it can be tailored to the individual to be exactly what they need.

Pretty great, right?

26/06/2025

Did you know conga drums offer valuable sound benefits that support emotional regulation in children?

Their warm, rhythmic tones and responsive surfaces provide immediate sensory feedback, helping to ground and calm the nervous system 😌

The act of tapping or drumming with steady, repetitive patterns can mimic the rhythm of a heartbeat, promoting relaxation and reducing anxiety.

They’re one of those instruments you can really FEEL in your heart, right? 💕

21/06/2025

I get this question all the time, but the answer might surprise you 😉

15/06/2025

I love the guitar, you’ve probably noticed I have a few of them hanging on the wall in my studio 🎸

But here are 3 reasons why I love using them in my music therapy sessions, particularly with kids…

✅ the portability and soothing acoustic sound of the guitar make it ideal for creating a calming, safe environment

✅ its versatility allows therapists to adapt to a wide range of musical styles, promoting engagement and self-expression

✅ kids can strum, tap, or sing along, encouraging motor skills, emotional regulation, and communication

Overall, the guitar is an effective, interactive tool in supporting children’s developmental and emotional needs. So if you and your child are coming along to a session with me, don’t be surprised when I pull out this amazing instrument.

12/06/2025

When music therapy is used within the home, music becomes a tool for communication, bonding, and routine, making daily interactions more meaningful and creating a calm, supportive environment.

Pretty amazing, right? If you give any of these simple tools a try, make sure you let know how you go 🎶

01/06/2024

Change is in the air at Glissando! I worked my last day in beautiful Bunbury last week and I've just finished semester 1 SimPrac with the incredible music therapy students at Melbourne University.
While change is a constant in our lives, it isn't always easy to deal with. We can find ourselves faced with a range of (sometimes conflicting) emotions we may not feel equipped to work through.
As music therapists we can use music in a variety of ways to process emotions, express ourselves in a safe way and validate our feelings. One of the ways we do this is through song writing.
Here is a song I wrote for myself. It acknowledges some of the emotions I'm experiencing and acts as a catchy reminder that I have the skills to navigate this new period of change. Plus I just created a little piece of art, which always makes me feel good!

28/05/2024

15/02/2024

Is it my job to tell swifties that Taylor’s music isn’t that good?

The short answer is ABSOLUTELY NOT. But let’s unpack this a bit more, because there has been a lot of commentary recently around whether or not Taylor Swift is overrated. It seems that people on both sides of this discussion feel their opinion of her music is the right one and makes them somehow superior to those who feel differently. The thing is though, our connection to music is entirely subjective and my definition of what is ‘good’ will not match yours.

*Please note, this post isn’t actually about Taylor Swift, it’s about any kind of music or art we feel a strong connection to.

There are so many factors that influence our relationship with a piece of music!

🎤 We can relate closely with the artist’s life or causes they back
🎤 We can relate to the lyrics, appreciate the poetry or even resonate strongly with one line from a song
🎤 We can connect to the melody, the harmonies, the rhythm or even a particular instrument
🎤 The music can evoke memories and feelings of an event or a season in our lives
🎤 Or cause us to recall how someone we care about loved this particular song/album/artist

These are just a few of the reasons you might connect to a piece of music. We could also talk about how the music we are exposed to in our early life has an enormous impact on our definition of what sounds good, or about the connection to culture and sense of community that can accompany the music, or about themes of elitism that have wound their way into our western view of art and the people who practise and appreciate it.

Here’s the thing though, above all, our taste in music is subjective and entirely individual.

Your connection to music is unique and powerful and valid. You do not have to justify it to anyone else. You don’t even have to justify it to yourself. Judging another person’s taste in art of any kind doesn’t make you superior, it makes you judgmental.

Encouraging others to feel shame around music isn’t just a negative experience for all involved, it actively makes our lives worse by depriving us of an avenue for emotional release and self expression. More on this another day. For now, let’s try to hold space for all the magnificent art we have access to from all over the world.