Six ideas to help you do music therapy at home or on your next shift

We know that there is a long list of benefits that can come from engaging in music, which is why music is such a useful therapy tool. If you’re on your own or with the support of a support worker, music therapy can be something you can use to benefit your life. Just ask Hireup support worker Freya, who uses music therapy on her support shifts.
“As a disability support worker and music therapist, I’ve witnessed first-hand how learning an instrument develops motivation, social skills and engagement, attention and memory, coordination and motor skills, emotional regulation and expression, academic skills in language and maths, self-discipline and feelings of achievement.”

Do you move unconsciously when Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars plays on the radio? Do tears form in your eyes when you listen to Adele singing a gorgeous ballad? Or do you regularly ask Siri to play your perfectly curated Spotify playlist (maybe it’s a collection of songs from your angsty teenage era). Whether or not you said yes to any of these things, it would be hard to argue that music has no part to play in our lives.

We know that there is a long list of benefits that can come from engaging in music, which is why music is such a useful therapy tool. If you’re on your own or with the support of a support worker, music therapy can be something you can use to benefit your life. Just ask Hireup support worker Freya, who uses music therapy on her support shifts.

“As a disability support worker and music therapist, I’ve witnessed first-hand how learning an instrument develops motivation, social skills and engagement, attention and memory, coordination and motor skills, emotional regulation and expression, academic skills in language and maths, self-discipline and feelings of achievement.”

One: learn an instrument 

There are always benefits from learning something new, even if it’s just adding to your skillset or making you feel accomplished. So why not try learning an instrument as part of your music therapy? 

Instruments can be expensive, but even if you don’t own an instrument, you can still find a way to play. There are lots of apps for your phone or tablet to help you learn the basics. A great place to begin is by learning piano or guitar from your phone.

With websites like YouTube, learning how to play your favourite instruments is becoming a lot more accessible, even during the latest lockdowns. Whether you want to learn ukulele, drums or something in between, you can find someone online and begin learning straight away. If you’re up for a challenge, you could even start an online course on a platform like Skillshare. 

Learning online isn’t for everyone though and there are definitely benefits from learning in person with a teacher. Why not try searching on Hireup for a support worker in your area who would be willing to teach you? There are lots of support workers who are keen musicians or  music teachers, like Craig who started teaching banjo on his Hireup shifts.

Two: make your own beats

Similar to the online apps that help you learn music, there is plenty of computer software to help you create your own music too. For example, if you or your support worker owns an Apple computer or iPhone, you can start creating for free with Garageband.

So these are two ways to start music therapy by playing music, but there are also activities for people who just want to listen.

Three: express your feelings

Remember those tears welling in your eyes from Adele’s soulful ballad? Well, music has a way of helping us understand and express our emotions. One idea you can try is to use songs to express your own emotions.

Try this activity:

1.  What are the titles of the songs?
2. What comes to your mind when you hear the songs?
3. How do they make you feel?
4. What part of each song is the most important to you, and why?

Four: relax by listening

If you think about relaxing music at a yoga studio or music to pump you up at the gym, music is a great tool for shaping your mood. Mindfulness is a concept you’ve probably heard of before, but by adding music it can make it easier to relax and be in the moment.

Music relaxation is a well-known music therapy for mindfulness and meditation. Music relaxation can help you feel calm, relaxed, loosen muscles or release a build up of stress. It can just be a great way to unwind and improve our emotions too.

Five: draw what you hear

You know what goes together like Adele and a ballad? Music and art. 

Similar to the relaxing exercise, this activity involves listening to some music. However, this activity can get a little more messy.

Six: music bingo

Finally, if you’re searching for something a little more energetic or competitive, you could try music bingo. It is all about improving your memory and helping with your positive mental health. This one is definitely worth playing with your friends, family or even your support worker.

For this activity, you will need some cut out pieces of paper and something to draw with.

To start the activity, one of you has to draw a song. Everyone else should be guessing what the song is.

Once someone names the song, you all have to try and remember the words to the song and sing it together. 

Here is a bonus idea: just get moving however you can!

We have shared some easy ways to get started with music therapy at home or during your Hireup shifts, but if you’re just getting started, try simply moving along to your favourite song. It might sound simple but music therapy is about finding the right way for music to benefit you and your health.