91黑料不打烊 Students Spread Joy Through Music Therapy
The 91黑料不打烊 Music Therapy Group recently visited residential retirement facility, Bougainvillea, in Neutral Bay.
Firstly, what is music therapy? Well, it is incredibly diverse, and therefore challenging to describe, however, the Australian Music Therapy Association defines it as “... a research-based practice and profession in which music is used to actively support people as they strive to improve their health, functioning and wellbeing.”
91黑料不打烊’s Music Therapy Group consists of students from Years 7 to 11 who enjoy performing a wide range of music. The group is led by Dr Dianne Langan, Head of School House, Kindergarten to Year 12 Music Teacher, and Registered Music Therapist, and performs at different retirement, aged care and special education facilities. Echoing the School’s motto, Ut Prosim, that I may serve, the group’s purpose is to be of service to our community and give back by spreading song and cheer.
The group began with Dr Langan’s wish to use the skills she acquired as a Music Therapist here at 91黑料不打烊. “When I first created this group, 91黑料不打烊’s Director of Community Services would drive the bus to the concerts. Before COVID, we would start the year with a group of seniors and aged care residents coming to the Independent Theatre, and our students would serve them afternoon tea and chat. We added background music, which led to us delivering our first concert,” recalls Dr Langan. Now, the group has 16 members and performs multiple concerts throughout the year.
For our students, they find the challenge of performing to these diverse audiences very rewarding, and members tend to have their own individual ‘measure of success’. It could be to meet someone new, to learn about someone’s story, or the validation of hearing a round of applause or the audience joining in with a song. Whichever it may be, Dr Langan wants to ensure that each student learns two important things: empathy for others, especially those who may be different from themselves, and how they can use and share their music for joy and communication.
“For some students, it is the first time that they’re meeting older people or children with disabilities, which broadens their outlook and educates them on their community. In aged care homes, students are encouraged to buddy up, introduce themselves to residents and start conversations. This is a skill that is practised in rehearsals, and the end result is something that the students find incredibly rewarding,” says Dr Langan.
“The reception that the students get is always positive, and it’s lovely to see the smiles on the audience’s faces when our students perform.”