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Dilan

I'm with Ray Travasso, a music therapist, in Suffolk. Ray, what is music therapy?

Ray

Music therapy is all about engaging. We're all born with an innate response to music. The brain responds to music, accessing memory and words.Music therapy is about using those innate responses to address people's needs.

Dilan

Why do children and families come to you?

Ray

It might be that the child has got some difficulties with speech, it could be that the child has got some behavioural issues or have autism or cerebral palsy. They could be children who may be bereaved. It could be children who've got anxiety. But what we find in music is that the children are naturally motivated by the music and actually that they might be a bit more relaxed as well when they're listening to music.

Dilan

How might a typical session work?

Ray

We have a range of different instruments out and what we want to see is how does the child engage with the music? Are they drawn to certain instruments? Or are there certain sounds that they seem to prefer? All the time we're trying to engage with the child, always trying to reach into their world through music. Always trying to think about what their needs are. Music therapy sessions could happen anywhere. They could happen in school, in people's homes, hospitals as well. When working in a group, then we can really address some of the social aims. Whether it's turn taking, listening or waiting.

Dilan

What are the benefits of this kind of therapy?

Ray

Benefits are really about interaction and about communication. It might be about raising their self-esteem, helping along some of those developmental goals. It might be difficulty with speech. Music therapy can really, really help vocal sounds and then suddenly we've got children who are able to speak for the first time. That's amazing. The benefits for the parents as well, because when they see their children achieving and developing, that's really, really positive.