Music Therapy in a Time of Lockdown

Read about how Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre responded to the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand. Written by Hannah Jakel during her internship at Raukatauri.

May 2020

As New Zealand moved to control the Covid-19 outbreak in late March 2020, the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre team found itself trying to imagine how to respond in a way that was most supportive to our clients and their families. We knew that many of our families would face challenges from the lockdown beyond the rising stress and uncertainty that all New Zealanders were experiencing. In brainstorming how we would respond as an organisation, we quickly recognized the need for continued access to the music therapy services that our clients found so valuable, reassuring and stimulating prior to this upheaval in their lives. As the Level Four quarantine measures were announced, the move to online services became not just a possibility, but an essential resource to provide for the Raukatauri whānau.

On 1 April, we began offering individual and group music therapy sessions via Zoom to many of our centre clients, with initial trial sessions being free of charge. Music therapy sessions online provide familiar structure and routine to clients, continue our goal-oriented work, and offer a friendly face in uncertain times. We immediately found that these sessions also support parents and siblings by either offering an opportunity for the whole family to engage in an enjoyable activity or by allowing for a period of respite in which parents can do some housework, attend to other children or even just have a cup of tea. In addition to online sessions, our therapists have created customised music therapy videos for many of our community outreach partners. These videos are shared via a private YouTube channel and are sent directly to residential facilities for use in daily programming or are distributed by schools to families for use at home, reaching approximately 170 clients each week.

While discussing how to stay connected with our clients, the initiative to provide community music programming in a consistent and innovative way was brought up. The project quickly developed into what is now known as QuaranTunes, a private Facebook group of over 200 members that provides new interactive music-making videos daily from all the music therapists at RMTC to clients and families at home. A normal day on QuaranTunes starts with a live streamed Mōrena session and finishes with an evening bedtime video to provide daily structure, while also featuring four or five themed musical videos throughout the day. These videos, which are distinct from goal-oriented music therapy sessions, feature movement activities, singalongs, drumming, instrument-making tutorials, relaxation, and special content like Jazz in the Jungle, Traveling the World, and even exploring one music therapist’s family farm to sing to all the animals. The level of daily engagement through views, comments, and likes by the families, plus the personal messages and photos sharing the experiences of our families in lockdown, demonstrate how this community has come together and found strength and support from resources created with the needs of the clients in mind.

Raukatauri mum Victoria says, ‘Being in lockdown has been really confusing for my son Alex. Thankfully, Raukatauri started QuaranTunes filling our days with music, happiness and, importantly, a new reliable routine. This has been hugely calming for the whole family. Because they are run by specialist therapists, the sessions are especially well targeted for the kinds of movements and songs that will work best for our child. Alex is also continuing to have weekly one on one sessions with his music therapist using video conferencing, it means so much to still have his therapist checking in on him.’

When many are struggling at this time, the therapeutic relationship formed using music means our therapists are in a unique position to support the clients and their families’ wellbeing. During this challenge, being conscious of how we shape and contribute to our community, and particularly those who are more vulnerable and isolated, drives the collaborative effort of the RMTC team to sustain support and connection for our whānau. Though we may not know what to expect next, these sessions and resources mean clients and families can maintain a semblance of normalcy and stay connected in a truly special and meaningful way.