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Empowering others through music therapy
Sabina Marr knew she wanted to be a music therapist since the age of 12. With a passion for music, a caring nature, and a fascination for the human mind, it made perfect sense to combine these elements of her personality and work towards a career in music therapy. Sabina added singing, the guitar, the piano and the viola to her list of talents, honing her own skills so she could use them to support others in the future. After gaining experience working for HCPT - a charity that works with young people and adults with complex needs - she enrolled on Bishop Grosseteste University's (BGU) Special Educational Needs, Disability & Inclusion and Music course. Sabina said: "There were only a couple of universities in the whole country that offered this kind of course combination, so I went to look round BGU. As soon as I stepped foot on campus, I knew I was in the right place. "The University's approach is completely person-centred and I felt immediately welcomed into its community. Throughout my course I had fantastic support from my tutors and I was given the opportunity to complete placements that improved my confidence and provided experience that would prove invaluable in my future career." After completing a Master's in Music Therapy, Sabina joined Chiltern Music Therapy in 2021 as a Music Therapist. The non-profit organisation provides Music Therapy, Neurologic Music Therapy™ and Community Music services across England and strives for 'a world where music therapy is the transformative thread in everyday life.' Clients range significantly in age, background, personal needs, and goals. Sabina says it's a misconception that music therapists only work with children and shares that 60-70% of her client base are adults. Sessions can be one-on-one or to a group of clients, and may be delivered in schools - including those for students with special educational needs - or in a clinical setting such as brain injury rehabilitation, residential care homes, mental health facilities and hospitals. When defining music therapy, Sabina said: “Every person has the ability to appreciate and respond to music. Music therapists use this connection to establish and develop therapeutic relationships with the people they are working with, in order to meet relevant physical, emotional, social, behavioural, cognitive and communicative goals. Sessions are tailored so that they are accessible and targeted towards individualised development. "Music therapy is an established psychological clinical intervention, and is an internationally recognised practice.” She emphasises that her goal is not to teach others how to play instruments or read music. She says: "I use music to achieve non-musical goals. For example, when working with someone who has had a stroke, I may use melody and familiar songs to improve their clarity and fluency of speech. If the person needs support learning to walk again, I may use elements of music, such as rhythm, to help with their coordination and balance. If the individual is suffering from low mood, we may use song writing or musical improvisation to explore these feelings. "With music, you don't have to rely on words to express yourself, which is really helpful for my non-verbal clients. It's important to tailor the sessions to the individual needs of the client so we can make sure we're on the right path to achieving their goals. "There are so many ways music can be used to improve lives. The most rewarding part of my job is seeing my clients progress and witnessing how much the sessions have helped them. Right now, I'm focusing on refining my expertise and continuing to use music therapy to empower others. " -
Our social purpose
Empowering students and communities through education and partnerships -
Dr Duncan Mercieca
Dr Duncan Mercieca lectures in Special Educational Needs, Disability and Inclusion at BGU. His research draws upon post-structural philosophers to think through educational issues, in particular, those related to diversity and otherness; inclusion and disability; and critiquing education research and its methods. Duncan also works in a special school in Scotland. -
Nishi Bremner
https://www.bgu.ac.uk/staff/nishi-bremner -
Sarah Chesney
https://www.bgu.ac.uk/staff/sarah-chesney -
Special Educational Needs Disability and Inclusion (SENDI) students explore how disability is represented outside the classroom
BGU students studying on our single and combined SENDI degrees, embarked on a fieldtrip to the UK’s capital – to explore the perception of disability within society. -
Dr Lyndsay Muir
Lyndsay Muir is a senior lecturer in teacher development. She teaches on the secondary PGCE, MEd and PhD/EdD programmes, with specialisms in Drama and English, wider professionalism and equity, diversity and inclusion. She is a graduate of Durham, Birmingham (UCE) and Manchester Universities. Her background is in applied drama, and she has worked in all phases of education, as well as in the creative industries and training sectors. Lyndsay’s PhD thesis was titled 'A Teacher's Progress - passing as a professional' and her research interests include teacher professional identity formation, gender, sexuality, and inclusion in the field of education. She is a founding member of BRIDgE (Base for Research in Diversity, Inclusion & Equity. Teaching Lyndsay teaches on the PGCE, MEd and PhD/EDD programmes and is a subject specialist for the PGCE Secondary Drama and English. -
Students from care
BGU is committed to the support of students who enter higher education having had any prior experience of care. -
Information for Mature Students
If it’s been a while since you were last in education, don’t worry, we’re here for you -
British Education Research Association Shines a Light on BGU Project Aiming to Build Teacher Confidence in Supporting Pupils from Diverse Backgrounds
The British Educational Research Association (BERA) has published a new blog post highlighting the work of academics from Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) who are leading a project to help trainee teachers gain confidence in teaching pupils from diverse backgrounds by developing teaching resources about BAME communities. The cross-departmental project, takes in work from three academics across different parts of the university; Dr Sheine Peart, programme leader for the Doctor of Education, Dr Hadiza Kere Abdulrahman, senior lecturer in inclusive education, and Dr Clare Lawrence, senior lecturer in teacher development. Speaking following the BERA coverage Dr Lawrence discussed the projects background: “This project builds on the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion work already being carried out in our secondary PGCE programme, which is promoted by Zoe Nye and Lyndsay Muir. This kind of collaborative work is very exciting, and I think that we have all enjoyed being involved.” To find out more about the project and to read the blog post in full click here. To create your own successes in our collaborative learning community, visit our website, speak to a member of our Enquiries Team or join us on one of our Open Days.
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