Music industry raises funds for centre

18 November 2008

The New Zealand music industry raised more than $150,000 for the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre at a charity gala auction in Auckland on Saturday night.

The funds will go towards operational costs, as the centre receives no statutory funding and needs to raise $400,000 each year to keep it running.

Highlights of the auction were:

• a Mazda2 car customised by fashion designers Stitch Ministry, which fetched $20,000;
• the ultimate Kiwi music dinner set decorated by eight of the country's best-loved musicians, knocked down for $8,000;
• Chris Knox's interpretation of the Beatles Rubber Soul cover reaching $12,500;
• 10 VIP tickets to the Big Day Out snatched up for $3,500;
• a private acoustic performance by Bic Runga at an exclusive cocktail party at The Wharf, which soared to $18,000.

Hosted by Dai Henwood, the evening featured donated performances by numerous musicians including Hollie Smith and the Mt Roskill Primary School Choir, Hinewehi Mohi with Joel and Nathan Haines, Elemeno P, Supergroove and Opshop. Henwood and auctioneer Brett Trigger also gave their services.

Raukatauri trust chairman Campbell Smith says the funds raised will be put to good use.

"The trust is self-funding and relies on generous folk to help us support the great work that is done.

"As the reputation of the centre grows, we are also seeing more demand for its services, and these all need financial backing.

"I am delighted the music industry and supporters have once again come out to help back what is a crucial service for so many families."

It is the fifth year New Zealand musicians and friends have come together in support of the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre.

Kiwi song contest benefits RMTC

11 November 2008

A competition to find New Zealand's favourite Kiwi song is turning into a major fundraiser for the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre.

The competition, part of a promotion by Radio Station MORE FM and Vodafone, will see New Zealand's favourite song recorded by top New Zealand artists Anika Moa and Opshop, with all proceeds from the single going to the Centre.

Music fans can text CHARITY to 787, followed by the title of their favourite Kiwi anthem and the name of the artist who recorded it.  The texts are free if you're a Vodafone customer or cost the normal rate if you're on Telecom. Voting is also open online at http://www.morefm.co.nz/.

Anika Moa and Opshop, who are on the bill for the MORE FM Winery Tour in 2009, are going to select one tune from all the submissions and will record the single.

The promotion closes on Friday, 21 November, and the single goes on sale at The Warehouse stores and via Vodafone and other digital channels from 1 December.

The funds are earmarked to help with music therapy activities at the Centre.

The Chairman of the Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust , Campbell Smith, said Opshop and Anika Moa were touring the nation's wineries together in February next year, so the single was destined to get some wide exposure.

For further details of the MORE FM Winery Tour 09 go to http://www.thewinerytour.co.nz/

Television with Attitude

14 October 2008

Attitude TV visited the Centre this week to film one of our client's, Sam Waller. 

Attitude TV is an upbeat, magazine-style programme on TV One on Sunday mornings, and reflects the lifestyles, issues and interests of people living with a disability, and those who care for them.  Attitude have followed Sam's progress over the past six years, and this was the third time he had been filmed.

Sam is a young man of 13 with a great sense of humour.  He has cerebral palsy, and attends group sessions at the Centre with two other children of similar age, Darian and Cassie. 

Since he has been coming to the Centre, Sam, Darian and Cassie's mums have formed a friendship and Attitude were interested in following up on this side of the story as well, trailing the mums to the local café and filming their "coffee group".  Fortunately, we also had a dad come along who provided a very entertaining and energetic child-minding service during the coffee shoot.

It was a busy few hours at the Centre with the TV crew filming Sam's arrival and music therapy session, and interviewing Sam and his mum, Piata. The shoot finished with Sam expertly interviewing the programme's Associate Producer, Curtis Palmer. 

Sam and the RMTC will screen on Attitude TV early in February 2009.

Book sales support Centre

A special book about a mother's search for help for her sick daughter is bringing benefit to children at the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre.

The book, The Gift of Mamaku , written and illustrated by Robina Adamson, is a story of love and magic from the land of Aotearoa. And, for every copy sold, both Robina and the publisher, Utopia Press, are making a donation to the Centre

Robina's own daughter, Mali, comes to the Centre each week for music therapy, and Mali is one of the central characters in the book.

"It is a non-fiction story," says Robina, "set in the present time, yet one of the central characters is an ancestor, or Tupuna, of the Maori and Pacific people from long ago."

The Tupuna is a magical man who shares his knowledge of the healing properties of the Mamaku, or tree fern, with the mother.

One of the key themes of the book is that we are caretakers of the land, and that we need to develop a sense of "oneness" with nature. Robina has a special interest in the environment, particularly in environmental pollution, and has campaigned on the safe use of agricultural chemicals.

Her other passion is the plight of indigenous peoples, and she has visited Maori in remote communities in New Zealand and shortly to visit aboriginal groups in Australia, promoting her book.

To read more about this wonderful woman, and to order your copy of The Gift of Mamaku, please go to http://www.giftofmamaku.com/. 

Centre achieves milestone

More special needs children than ever are receiving much-needed help now the Raukatauri Music Therapy centre is seeing more than 100 clients a week.

When the Centre began four years ago, it had only one music therapist and a part-time administrator. The Centre treated 36 children in its first year of operation and $140,000 was raised in donations.

The centre now sees 105 children every week, has four music therapists, a full-time director and an administrator, and in the last financial year raised $375,000 through donations.

Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust Chairman Campbell Smith says the client milestone is both pleasing and challenging.

"It certainly illustrates the need for our services, but frankly we are a long way from entirely meeting that need," Mr Smith says.  "It is great that we can help more children now, and that is solely due to the many organisations and individuals who support the Centre through donations."

Centre clients pay only as much as they can afford, with some receiving free therapy.

"In addition, we now run six Outreach programmes at Auckland schools, which enable us to work with clients in their learning environments.

"Last year we had about 65 children complete a music therapy programme. This year that will be even higher. There is real and urgent demand for music therapy."

Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre supports clients with physical, intellectual, behavioural and emotional issues. Through music therapy, the children can improve motor skills and speech, grow their self-confidence and self-awareness, strengthen social skills and improve memory, behaviour, and concentration.

"Sustainable growth and development through music therapy can greatly improve the quality of life of these children, and of the people around them, including parents and caregivers, siblings and classmates," Mr Smith says.

"While we have reached the milestone figure of 100 clients every week there is still plenty more we need to do. Funding is the key."

Supporters Day 2008

The Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre was full to overflowing this month for its annual Supporters Day event.

There was a great turnout, and the 50 or so people present were privileged to a wonderful talk by Stephanie Keys, whose son Joshua recently completed therapy at the Centre.

The group also heard from Board chairman Campbell Smith, who spoke of the many people who help the Centre - from the Foundations and Trusts who give annual grants, to the musicians who play at the gala fundraiser and those who supply items for the annual auction. Campbell also mentioned the many people who give of their time, goods or services, or who make regular donations to the Centre - without them Raukatauri could not function.

Stephanie Keys spoke about the transformation of her son through music therapy, and there were some moving clips shown of Joshua and his therapist Claire Molyneux working together.

Joshua is autistic, and Stephanie said that at the start of therapy he had limited verbal skills, could not make eye contact with anyone, including herself, could not concentrate, and could not carry out simple tasks such as turn-taking.

By the end of therapy all that had changed. To see footage of Joshua "jamming" with Claire, talking, smiling and fully engaging with her, seemed nothing short of miraculous.

The event ended with participants taking home a small thank you instrument from Raukatauri. 

Herald profiles music therapy

Music therapy as a career was featured in the New Zealand Herald's Workplace  section recently, with an interview with Raukatauri music therapist Alison Cooper.

Here's a couple of excerpts from the article, and you can read the full interview at the Herald's website, http://www.nzherald.co.nz/, or at the following url:  http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/11/story.cfm?c_id=11&objectid=10518120

Describe what you do?

I work with individual children with special needs and in groups. I engage them in active music-making to promote and support their wellbeing and healthy development, as well as individual goals such as sensory development, communication, social skills and physical skills.

Music activities involve singing and playing instruments, particularly percussion. We often improvise and personalise the music for the children.

Best part of job?

It is special building relationships with children who are very hard to reach, and seeing them become more aware of themselves and start to connect with people and things through music. I also love spending all day making music.

Instruments for Fiji Schools

Organising fundraising concerts is just one of the many talents of Raukatauri Music Therapist Alison Cooper.

Alison is visiting two special needs Schools in Fiji this month, along with staff from Auckland's Carlson School, and raised over $600 for instruments to take with her.

"As a team we are going to share skills with staff at Savusavu Special School and Labasa Special School. I wanted to go as I know how much the children I work with respond to music."

The fundraising involved Alison organising a house concert of chamber music for flute, clarinet, strings and piano, and a viola players day for members of the Australia NZ Viola Society.

Performing alongside her at the concert were her three music therapy colleagues from Raukatauri, Marie Bagley, Hee Chan Choi and Claire Molyneux, Centre volunteer Gail Nathan, and musicians Judith Gust and Michael Palmer. Alison also composes music, and two of her pieces were a highlight of the evening.

Fifteen percussion instruments will be part of Alison's luggage as she heads for Fiji  on 14 July, including a guiro, rhythm sticks, drums, beaters, and tambourines.

She says she was very pleased to be invited on the trip by Sue Donnell of Carlson School, where she delivers a music therapy Outreach programme as part of her work at Raukatauri.

Shine A Light competition winner

Jack Cameron pulled one out of the hat at the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre recently when he picked the winner of the Shine A Light competition.

The Centre hosted the New Zealand premiere of the new Rolling Stones film, and Nicola Reade, from Aim Proximity, was the lucky competition winner, taking home two Shine A Light  t-shirts and some fantastic Allan Scott wine.

Jack, who has been attending music therapy sessions since he was five, was helped by his mother Jacqui to pull the winning business card from the hat.

Music therapy has made a big difference to Jack, who is autistic.

"It has aided in communication and is quite a release for him," says his mother. "Jack is very anxious, he has obsessive compulsive disorder, and he will sing now to bring his stress levels down. He didn't do that before music therapy."

Jack's speech has also improved. "In the past his speech was stilted and slow, but music therapy has helped in that it is smoother and more expressive."

Jacqui says she is very thankful the Raukatauri Centre exists. "I don't think we would have such great quality of life without it."

Queen's Birthday Honour for Board Member

An acknowledgement of Hinewehi Mohi's work for Maori in the Queen's Birthday Honours list is extra special for the staff and children at the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre.

Hinewehi became a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for her services to Maori on 2 June 2008, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to her people.

Those associated with the Raukatauri centre know of another dimension to Hinewehi's community service, through the hours of work she contributes to the Centre.

Hinewehi is a founding member of the Board of Trustees of the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre, which was started four years ago, and her contribution to the Centre is huge.

Staff and clients of the Centre would like to congratulate Hinewehi on her Queen's Birthday honour, and to thank her for all her hard work for Raukatauri.

Appointment of new director reflects growing need for music therapy

The growing demand for music therapy in New Zealand is a major factor behind the choice of a new director for the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre, the country's only dedicated music therapy centre.

The Centre has appointed former Unitec institute relations director Anne Bailey to head its operations.

Ms Bailey's employment mandate entails not only the day-to-day running of the centre but also the development of its three to five-year strategic plan.

RMTC research shows there is a huge potential demand for music therapy*. The appointment reflects the need for professional management to grow the centre in order to meet that demand.

Ms Bailey says there are two issues to the challenge.

"Obviously funding is a big one as we don't currently get any government assistance," she says. 

"As well, our challenge at the centre is to play a key role in growing the discipline of music therapy, which doesn't yet have a high profile in New Zealand, though it's great there's now the Masters programme in music therapy at the NZ School of Music."

Two factors are behind Ms Bailey's decision to accept the RMTC role.

"A strong motivation has been the opportunity to have a more direct input into the culture and values of an organisation," she says. "But I was also very much attracted to the kaupapa of RMTC, which is to change and enrich lives through music."

While the challenges are many, Ms Bailey says the job is stimulating.

"The therapists are amazing; the board brings a huge amount of experience, talent and support to the task; and music therapy is such a tremendous treatment. The music therapists probably wouldn't want me to call it magical, but it seems that way to me."

With a B.Sc. from Canterbury University, Ms Bailey has a background in communications.

After a career in TV and print journalism in Wellington, London and Sydney, she joined Unitec Institute of Technology in Auckland in 2000 as media manager before being appointed communications manager and deputy director of communications.

In July 2003 she was appointed director of institute relations at Unitec responsible for the strategic development of the university's brand. 

Ms Bailey took up her role as director of the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre in February this year. Former director Yid-Ee Goh left RMTC to pursue his musical career.

RMTC provides music therapy for special needs children of school age and younger and is the country's first dedicated music therapy centre. Currently it employs four music therapists who work both at the centre and in Outreach community programmes.

* Music therapy has been shown to be very effective in helping children with disabilities, children in special education, victims of child abuse or in situations of family violence, youth offenders and children in refugee families. Research commissioned by the RMTC indicated there was potentially huge demand for music therapy in these areas, as the following figures attest:

• In 2006, 90,000 children nationally, aged 0-14 years, had a disability
• As of August 2007, 17,000 children were receiving special education
• In 2006, there were 40,000 substantiated cases of child abuse and more than 18,000 cases of family violence
• In 2006, more than 12,000 children were cared for by Women's Refuge
• In 2006, there were more than 30,000 apprehensions for youth offending in 14-16 year olds
• About 750 refugees enter New Zealand each year
• RMTC currently sees about 80 children a week, either at its centre or through its Outreach programme.

TVNZ "Close Up" Interview 15th November 2007

TV One "Close Up" http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/497100/1448719

Maori Television "Native Affairs" featuring RMTC screened 4th November 2007

Maori TV "Native Affairs" http://www.maoritelevision.com/programmes/news/native_affairs/episodes/NativeAffairs-Ep27-Raukatauri-041107.htm

Review of Dr Clive Robbins "Workshop for Music Therapists and Music Therapy Students" - 27th October 2007

New Zealand was once again graced by the wonderful presence of pioneer British music therapist Dr Clive Robbins. In 1959, along with American composer Paul Nordoff, Dr Robbins, pioneered the use of musical improvisation as a medium of communication for children with special needs such as those on the autistic spectrum, many of whom were nonverbal.

Dr Robbins gave a presentation and workshop for music therapists and music therapy students in October this year. His passion and energy for this work defied his 80 years. Case examples were shared which Dr Robbins presented with such life and vitality that I nearlly forgot that these were recordings of sessions from decades ago. The exquisite case of 'Nicole', a blind and autistic child, was a moving example of how music therapy can connect with and draw out the inner music child, or the part of a person that is free from disability or pathology and which can respond meaningfully to another human being on an inter-subjective level. I felt very privileged to be witness to this child's therapeutic process as Dr Robbins showed us clips of her unfolding and awakening in response to the therapist's musical gestures of communication. The audio-visual examples Dr Robbins chose to illustrate Nicole's case showed us the process of trust for the child receiving music therapy:

1. trust in the music
2. trust in the therapist
3. trust in oneself in the music with the therapist

When a child is able to reach the third stage, she can allow herself to have what Dr Robbins calls peak experiences. In music therapy, these are new and profound feelings of connecting at once with oneself and with another human being in music, free from the constraints of autism or disability. We were fortunate enough to see for ourselves some of Nicole's peak experiences, flinging her head back in time to her drum playing, which was in time with her therapist's piano playing, her face aglow with joy.

We also saw, however, examples of Nicole's struggle to get to this stage in her therapy. Dr Robbins explained how the condition child (the autistic Nicole) is in conflict with the music child (the healthy, socially responsive Nicole), the one who wants to experience connection with another person, joy and musical communication. The condition child tries to resist the therapist's attempts at communication, but eventually the music child wins out: hence, the power of music. This helped illustrate just how hard-won these peak experiences were for Nicole.

As well as many fascinating case examples, the day was also full of theory which was born out of his own clinical practice, a point strongly emphasised by Dr Robbins. This included his levels of effectiveness of music therapy, the creative process in a nutshell, and, of course, the process of trust for the child. To finish off our day, we were all encouraged to play songs for chime bars written by Paul Nordoff for groups of children with special needs. It certainly added lightness and warmth to what was a profoundly rewarding day.

Anna Maitland
Music Therapist

Review of Dr Clive Robbins Public Lecture- 26th October 2007

 I attended Dr Clive Robbins public lecture on Friday 26^th October, and was so inspired by him and his work that I registered for his workshop on the following day.

 It was very interesting to hear how the Nordoff- Robbins approach to music therapy was developed. Dr Robbins is an engaging speaker. His use of archival audio- visual case studies during the lecture gave us a fascinating insight into his work. I could happily have listened to him discuss more of his cases.

Dr Robbins appears full of the joy of life and is passionate about his work, the children he works with and sharing his knowledge. I look forward to any future visits he makes to New Zealand.

Anne Nieuwland
Family Information Coordinator
Wilson Home Trust

Clive Robbins' visit to Carlson School

Clive Robbins was warmly welcomed at Carlson School during his visit to Auckland in October 2007. Clive first visited Carlson in the 1980s while leading a training course for teachers and music therapists. Among those participants was long-serving teacher Cherry Lewis, who has successfully raised funds for the music therapy outreach programme at Carlson and its satellite classes.

Clive participated with Alison (RMTC music therapist) in two music therapy sessions. A group of senior students responded with delight to his playful musical approach. They smiled as he sang, reached out to share his tambourine, and giggled when he surprised them. Another student took a little while to adjust to having a visitor in her individual music therapy session, but gradually relaxed and allowed Clive to join in too.

This was a wonderful opportunity for the music therapist to work alongside Clive and to share thoughts about the children's responses. Clive seemed particularly pleased to make this return visit to Carlson, and spoke highly of RMTC's outreach work in schools.

Alison Cooper
(Registered Music Therapist)

Music Unlocks Abilities

News article from The Aucklander - Music Unlocks Abilities

RMTC Patron ~ Hayley Westenra

"I am so proud and honoured to be a patron and my visit to the Centre in August was a very memorable and heartwarming experience. I had the opportunity to meet some of the children who were taking Music therapy classes and was also shown some footage of their progress.

The effect the session have on the children is truly remarkable and so very encouraging. The music penetrates through the wall that seems to exist around the children's connection to the outside world. The team at the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre has done some amazing work so far. Please give them your support to help them continue with their work.

Hayley xxx "

See photos of Hayley's visit to the Centre - 27 April 2007

August 2005 - Our patrons Hayley Westerna & Boh Runga visit the new Centre in Eden Terrace with trustee Hinewehi Mohi

Training as a Music Therapist in New Zealand

Massey University of Wellington now offers a Master of Music Therapy Degree (MMusTher). The Music Therapy programme is based at the Conservatorium of Music in Wellington.

The music therapy programme is two years in length and includes music therapy principles and methods study, clinical training experiences, selected topics, study of indigenuous music of selected cultures, and casework/research projects. In addition to studies in Wellington, students may also have clincial placements at varied sites throughout New Zealand.

For more details of the course click here.

RMTC Opening - 18 March 2004

RMTC Opening 18 March 2004, the Centre is ready to receive visitors	RMTC Opening, visitors invited to enter the Centre
Kingi Ihaka and group perform a powhiri	Official RMTC Opening & ribbon cutting ceremony performed by Patron Boh Runga
Hinewehi Mohi & Yid-Ee Goh perform a song	Guest Natashya Guttenbeil enjoys a moment at the opening with RMTC Trustee Hinewehi

Hayley's visit to the Centre - 27 April 2007

Hayley Westenra, patron of Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre, took time out of her busy schedule to visit the Centre in Newton.  Hayley spent time with and performed for the children, including Hineraukatauri Mohi and Hugh Bawden-Hindle.  She was accompanied by fellow patron and musician, Boh Runga.

Hinewehi and Hineraukatauri	Hayley and Hineraukatauri
Hayley, Boh and Hineraukatauri	Hayley, Boh and Hineraukatauri
Hayley, Boh, Hineraukatauri and Hinewehi	Hayley, Hineraukatauri and Hinewehi
Hayley	Hayley and Hineraukatauri
Hugh, Yid-Ee, Hayley and Boh	Hayley and Hugh
Hayley and Hugh	Hayley and Hugh