Harmonic Tonic Music Therapy
Music Therapy for Children and Adults with Disabilities and the Elderly
About Harmonic Tonic Music Therapy
Our Music Therapy Services
Shaw Herron, Registered Music Therapist, started Harmonic Tonic in February 2008 after completing a Graduate Diploma in Music Therapy at UTS. He has successfully run individual and group sessions for the elderly, adults with disabilities and individual sessions for children with autism which have been well received by clients, carers and family members.
Harmonic Tonic Music Therapy delivers progressive, exciting and challenging music therapy to the elderly, children with a disability, adults with a disability and other client groups. Music therapy sessions include familiar as well as new songs, music and interventions so participants experience some comfort and reminiscence as well as new and interesting challenges that stimulate and excite.
Harmonic Tonic Music Therapy explores the clients’ growing edge to overcome inhibitions and increase confidence. The music therapist identifies immediate, short-term and long-term needs of his clients and addresses them with tailored interventions.
Harmonic Tonic Music Therapy provides music therapy that addresses physiological, psychosocial, spiritual and emotions needs and deficits while being FUN and ENTERTAINING.
Harmonic Tonic Music Therapy provides documentation that can be used to revise goals, plan future music therapy sessions and keeps records of clients’ progress in music therapy sessions. The music therapist seeks out and researches new developments in music therapy to improve and develop his music therapy program.
Music Therapy for Children and Adults with a Disability
Music Therapy
Children and adults with a disability may find music therapy fun, enjoyable and something they look forward to. However, music therapy provides a range of therapeutic benefits through stimulating and enjoyable activities.
Music’s structure and predictability assist in developing responsive interaction between the music therapist and the client. This forms a base from which tolerance, flexibility and social engagement to build relationships can develop.
Clients
Music therapy is suitable for a range of disabilities including children and adults with autistic spectrum disorder, children and adults with Down syndrome and children and adults with intellectual disabilities who may have a deficit with one or more of the following: verbal communication, non-verbal communication, attention, emotion, cognition and behaviour.
Sessions
Harmonic Tonic Music Therapy offers music therapy sessions at schools, day centres and other institutions. Music therapy assessments are undertaken and sessions tailored to address the needs tastes and preferences of each client.
Client benefits
Music therapy for children and adults with a disability can:
- stimulate and enhance communication
- provide an outlet for expression
- provide social interaction and reduce isolation
- improve fine and gross motor skills
- provide cognitive stimulation
- develop and sustain attention
- decrease challenging behaviour
- assist with speech development.
Music therapy techniques
Music therapy sessions may involve the following activities depending on the clients’ abilities and needs:
- singing
- playing instruments
- musical improvisation on percussion and tonal instruments
- listening to music
- requesting favourite songs
- moving/dancing to music
- song writing
- relaxation.
Equipment
Harmonic Tonic Music Therapy has a range of equipment to suit individual and small group music therapy sessions including:
- keyboard
- xylophone
- drums
- guitars
- ukuleles
- hand held percussion
- visuals.
Further information
Please feel free to email or telephone Shaw Herron if you have any enquiries about music therapy or wish to make an appointment.
Music Therapy for the Elderly
Music Theory Classes
Clients describe music therapy as fun, enjoyable and something they look forward to. However, music therapy provides a range of therapeutic benefits through stimulating and enjoyable activities.
Clients
Music therapy is suitable for all sorts of people including the elderly, people with dementia or Alzheimer’s, people with intellectual disabilities, people with mental health issues and people in palliative care.
Sessions
Harmonic Tonic Music Therapy offers individual and group music therapy sessions at community centres, hospitals, nursing aged care facilities, hostels etc.
Client Benefits
Client benefits
Music therapy for clients can:
- improve self-esteem and self-worth
- alleviate feelings or pain, depression or boredom
- decrease restlessness and challenging behaviour
- provide an outlet for expression
- provide social interaction and reduce isolation
- improve respiration
- encourage movement
- provide cognitive stimulation
- assist in recovery from mental or physical illness.
Carer benefits
Music therapy also benefits the carers of clients as music therapy can:
- give them time to themselves or time for other activities
- result in calmer and more agreeable clients or family members
- be an activity they can enjoy with clients or family members
- provide connection and interaction with their clients or family members.
Music therapy techniques
Music therapy sessions may involve the following activities depending of the clients’ abilities and needs:
- singing
- playing instruments
- musical improvisation on percussion and tonal instruments
- listening to music
- requesting favourite songs
- moving/dancing to music
- discussion/reminiscing
- song writing.
Equipment
Harmonic Tonic Music Therapy has a range of equipment to suit individual and group music therapy sessions including:
- song lyric sheets
- hand held percussion
- drums
- keyboard
- guitars
- multi-track recording software.
Further information
Please feel free to email or telephone Shaw Herron if you have any enquiries about music therapy or wish to make an appointment.
Why engage a music therapist for two or three hours?
Engaging a music therapist for two or three hours allows the music therapist to reach more clients effectively. Two or three hours allows the music therapist to hold a number of music therapy sessions which can be tailored to groups with different needs. It also allows the music therapist to visit clients’ rooms for those who choose not to leave their rooms or can’t easily leave their rooms. Music therapy is also more therapeutic in smaller groups. You also have the option of the music therapist documenting the sessions or individuals progress in the sessions.
Options for two hours of music therapy
- A one and half hour group music therapy session and 30 minutes of documentation reviewing the clients’ progress
- Two group sessions of one hour each and no documentation
- A one hour group session, one hour of short individual sessions in clients’ rooms and no documentation
- One hour and 30 minutes of short individual sessions in clients rooms and 30 minutes of documentation reviewing the sessions and the clients’
- Two hours of short individual sessions in clients rooms.
Options for three hours of music therapy
- Two group sessions of one hour each and one hour of documentation reviewing the sessions and clients’ progress
- A one hour group session, one hour of individual sessions in clients rooms and one hour of documentation reviewing the sessions and clients’ progress
- Two hours of individual sessions in clients rooms and 1 hour of documentation
- Three group music therapy sessions of one hour each and no documentation
- Three hours of individual sessions in clients room and no documentation.
Please feel free to contact Shaw Herron if you have other suggestions or requirements.