SMT Newsletter - Term 1 2025
- Southern Music Admin
- Apr 3
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 7
HELLO!
We are beyond excited to be back in clinic after a well-deserved 3 weeks away for Christmas & New Years. Our team have started off strong with a fully booked term 1 which is now looking the same for term 2. Alongside the clinical work with our wonderful clients, there are a few exciting projects happening as well, we will share more with you once things are up and running. For now, please enjoy catching up with what we are doing!
Our team kicked off the year with a hand building pottery class for something a little different. We highly recommend getting in touch with the team at Ruffshuffler Ceramics - https://ruffshufflerceramics.co.nz/ let them know we sent you!
SMT NEWS & EVENTS
News:
GIVEAWAY TIME! Just 2 left!
We received a lovely donation over the Christmas break from someone wanting to support people in need to find out more about music therapy. They donated 5 free initial sessions!
These can be used if you are interested in finding out more about music therapy, but the initial session is a barrier.
To apply, please contact info@smt.nz
Meet our wonderful students!
Introducing our wonderful Masters Music Therapy students of 2025.
Ting-Wei, Mekaela & Kate are all joining us for 2025 as they spend some time with us on placement. We look forward to watching them learn and grow into Music Therapists that we know you will love.
Mekaela has 2 roles with us this year, 1 as a music therapy student & the other as a music therapy assistant - many of you may remember Mekaela from 2 years ago where she became inspired to train as an MT while working and volunteering with us.
Groups:
Adult Jammin' Group - starts 29th April 2025!
New clients: Please complete a referral form via our website www.smt.nz. A 15 minute initial session may be required to join this group.
Carer Support or Individualised Respite Funding can be used for this group.
Events:
Music Makers with SMT!
Have you heard we are hosting an event in collaboration with The Arts Centre this school holidays & is our Music Therapy Week event!
Music Makers with Southern Music Therapy - suitable for school aged children (5-18) with a disability. Join the SMT team for this wonderful event. www.smt.nz/newsandevents or click the link above.
Tickets are just $20 (+booking fee) and admit 1 child + 1 support person. If you need to bring along other children that are not attending, please email info@smt.nz.
Visit https://www.artscentre.org.nz/whats-on/school-holiday-fun/ to find out more on what is happening this school holidays at the Arts Centre!
Visit https://www.musictherapy.org.nz/.../music-therapy-week-2025/ to find out more on what is happening around New Zealand for Music Therapy Week 2025!
Aspire - Thrive 25!
Monday 12th May: 10am - 12pm
Music and Neuro with Grant Cowan and Kimberley Wade
Following a stroke Grant had Music Therapy with Kim. Together they will share about the power of music to engage neuroplasticity to help him find his voice again.
5 speakers over 5 Mondays, get your tickets - https://events.humanitix.com/thrive-25-db9acabv
PROJECTS
Christchurch Symphony Orchestra (CSO)
We are delighted to share that we are collaborating three times with the CSO this year.
Find out how you can get involved with the CSO, great opportunities for our young to the young at heart music lovers - Ki te Hapori In the Community | CSO
Check out this video to see what we get up to with the CSO & MS&P!
Cancer Society
We are excited to be working with Southern Cancer Society, supporting clients & their families with opportunities to be involved in music therapy.
Cancer Society clients, whanau and support networks are invited to our upcoming sessions. Come along to learn and experience how music can support your health and wellbeing.
Outcomes include relaxation, self-expression, confidence building, encouraging movement, lifting mood and managing pain.
Thank you to Music Therapy New Zealand & Music Helps with their generosity for this project.
To find out more contact Heather Mechaelis on 027 482 4567 or heather.mechaelis@southerncancer.org.nz
Other exciting news!
St John of God:
One of our clinic spaces is at St John of God in Halswell, our first clinic space actually. We have and continue to enjoy seeing many of our clients here but on a nice sunny day, we like to sometimes get our clients outside into the warmth of the sunshine to facilitate our sessions just like Esther did earlier in the year.
Laura Ferguson Brain Injury Trust:
Kim & Renata presented at the Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust Conference in March. Find out more here: https://braininjuryconference.nz/abstract/#abstract_15.
Renata & Kim had a full house at their presentations and got everyone singing & moving - of course!
It was a pleasure to be involved to grow people's knowledge & present at this event. It was great to get in front of more allied health professionals to bring awareness to our industry and show people how Music Therapy can be a beneficial for people with TBI. We have seen evidence of this with new ACC referrals coming through in the past few weeks.
Do you follow us on social media?
We share lots of exciting news weekly, please follow, like & share!
Facebook - www.facebook.com/southernmusictherapy
Instagram - www.instagram.com/southernmusictherapy
Referral Form
Do you or do you know someone that would benefit from Music Therapy? If so, we welcome you to complete our referral form to secure your space in terms 2, 3 & 4 now! You will be added to our waitlist and contacted when a suitable time becomes available.
Thank you for reading our newsletter, please share this with your wider community, just another way to support Southern Music Therapy!
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