Song
Therapy Advisory Group
External
Course Advisor
Dr Catherine Pestano is based in London and is an established community
music leader, singer song writer and social worker. She is chair of 'Culture
&' and previous chair of 'Sound Sense'. She is an external examiner
for the Open University and provides our Song Therapy Network with advice
and guidance as we build this supportive movement for independent community
music makers worldwide. In 2019 she was awarded a Doctorate by Winchester
University as acknowledgement of her contribution to practice in diversity,
community music and social work.
Research and Resources
Vanessa Cecil offers us contemporary summaries of research and available
resources for therapeutic music makers. Vanessa has a background in visual
art, medical photography, and therapeutic training. She has exhibited
widely, appeared on arts TV programmes and written for journals, contributing
regularly to Disability Arts Magazine. After several years training people
with ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in recovery strategies, Vanessa is currently
doing a PhD in psychology at the University of Exeter where she is researching
gendered ageism and the experiences of older women who encounter discrimination
due to their aged appearance.
Philosophy
Professor Matt
Qvortrup is a respected author and philosopher who writes regularly for
Philosophy Now magazine. He has appeared on BBC television and speaks
widely on european politics. He contributes occasionally to our webinar
programme and offers light entertaining reflections on philosophy music
and life.
Student Support
Claire Chappel is an experienced BACP qualified counsellor and provides
formal and informal support to students who might be facing challenges
in their music making workplaces. She offers support via telephone, email
and ZOOM. Her services are currently supplied free of charge to students.
She is based in West Somerset, UK.
Course Facilitator
Nigel
Neill is a professional community musician based in the south west of
England running four community choirs in Taunton, Exeter, Minehead and
Tiverton. He has worked extensively with learning disability groups and
in life limiting care settings as well as providing on going music programmes
for the brain injury charity Headway throughout Somerset; working with
Parkinsons UK in North and West Somerset and providing music for those
with dementia in residential home settings. He has worked closely with
the mental health charity Rethink and is currently developing a music
well being programme for Sompar NHS Trust. Nigel studied music therapy
for two years in Bristol, before switching to counselling skills for a
third year; his professional background is music performance, recording,
composition and song writing; composing original instrumental music for
BBC television and recording many established artists.
Song Therapy Assignment Tutors
Liz Radford and Peter Brown were among the first to complete our Song
Therapy Certificate course. They provide independent support and advice
for those on the course and for those planning to build their song therapy
careers in the future. They also provide feedback and third party advice
and have recently taken on tutoring responsibilities offering assignment
feedback to students on our certificate course.
Liz
Radford has a degree in Psychology / Sociology from Lancaster University
and achieved a Distinction Certificate and Enhanced Certificate in Song
Therapy, studying with the Song Therapy Network. As a professional songwriter,
she has written for singers, film and TV and also for leading brands and
advertising companies such as Saatchi and Saatchi. Her songs have charted
in several countries, including #1 on the iTunes Jazz chart in USA / Canada.
Based in Dorset, UK, she continues her work as a songwriter and musician
whilst developing song therapy sessions for the workplace, aimed specifically
to address issues arising from stress and anxiety.
Peter
Brown is based in Winchester, Hampshire, UK, where he provides services
through the Winnall Rock School (WRS); a charity that supports young people
by providing free music workshops and tuition. Promoting wellbeing through
the soul-bearing acts of singing and songwriting is key to this and Peter
is extending links with counselling and support services to promote this.
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