Who we are

Here at Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia, we are passionate advocators

for the use of music to address all aspects of health and aim to open up our
programs to encompass the full spectrum of music making needs across the
community. Our work involves using music as a therapeutic tool, be it for
developmental goals, physical rehabilitation purposes, or mental wellbeing. We
engage our clients through live music on the basis of research showing that
active engagement with musical sounds enhances neuroplasticity in the brain. It
also has a long-term effect on verbal memory and improves spatial-temporal
reasoning.

What will get played?

88 keys that will be played by both large and little hands. Black and white keys
that will be played in not-so-black-and-white manners. From classical to the
classics; from rock to jazz; from Czerny and Hanon to the world of free
improvisation, this piano will see no musical boundary.

Who gets to play this piano

From the youngest of toddlers, struggling to press the keys with their tiny
fingers, to the energetic pounding of keys of an angry teenager, to the sensitive
soul of a young adult composing original songs as a mean of self-expression, to
the oldest of us, with brittle nails but a strong sense of musicality, the piano does
not discriminate. Individuals with or without disability, of all ages, pairs of
therapist and client- even clients with each other, taking turns or playing in
synchronised manner, we welcome everyone to play.

How will it be used?

It will be primarily used to facilitate musical connection and communication.
Other than for playing, it is a useful educational tool. Inquisitive children often
wonder about the mechanics of a piano- how it works, what the hammers are for,
what the strings are like. A baby grand piano allows the viewing of the inner
workings of a piano without the hassle of taking it apart.

How much will it get used?

Our centre sees over 400 clients per week. Operating from Mon-Fri from 9-5pm
(sometimes even later), we facilitate both groups and individuals, providing
quality music therapy services and community music programs. That equates to
about 8000 fingers on its keys for 40 hours a week. It will be a very well-used
and busy piano indeed, not to mention well loved- we will maintain it and have it
tuned every year.

Why do we need this?

Piano is one of our main tools to continue the work we do. A versatile instrument,
it can be used rhythmically, melodically as well as harmonically, encompassing
all elements of music within the one instrument. Our current grand piano has
coped well for the past decade, but it is old and fails to do music justice. It is not
just piano concertos and brilliant modern jazz that this piano have ruined with its
terrible tuning that seems to slip quickly right after tuning, but even Mozarts
K265- more commonly known as Twinkle Little Star, is hardly recognisable to kids
anymore. For us to continue our work, we need our tools to be in prime condition
and with quality instruments such as a good piano, we can rest assure that the
music therapy services which we provide to those in need are of the best
standards.