Music therapy · Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & the Hunter

Music therapy that builds confidence and connection

Inclusive, evidence-based support for children, teens and adults, from a passionate team of qualified Registered Music Therapists in Shortland.

  • NDIS registered provider
  • AMTA Registered Music Therapists
  • 2023 Music Therapist of the Year
The Play Anything team on the studio porch holding a drum, ukulele, guitar and drumsticks
Instruments on the studio floor: a tongue drum, keyboard, small amp and leads

Why music therapy

Music reaches people in ways words sometimes can’t

Music engages the brain, body and emotions at once. We work with people with autism, ADHD, developmental delay, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, stroke, dementia, Parkinson’s and many other needs. It can help build:

  • Communication and social skills
  • Emotional regulation and wellbeing
  • Motor skills and coordination
  • Confidence and connection

Our therapists are university-trained allied health professionals, registered with the Australian Music Therapy Association. No musical experience is needed.

Have a go

Go on, play anything

Tap the bars, or drag across them. They’re tuned so every note fits, so there are no wrong notes here.

On a keyboard? Try A to K.

Programs

Making music together

Alongside individual therapy, we run programs that bring people together to make music.

A teenager with a bass guitar at a Polyphonic session

Ages 12–25Free

Polyphonic

An inclusive music program where young people with and without disability write songs, jam together and build friendships. Co-designed with teenagers, for teenagers.

What’s on
Weekly jams and school holiday intensives. New programs are coming in 2027.
Funding
Supported by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Get updates
With One Voice Newcastle choir members singing together, with a pianist on keys

Open to everyoneNo auditions

With One Voice Choir

Newcastle’s With One Voice choir is part of a national movement of inclusive community choirs. It’s beginner-friendly, and no singing experience is needed.

Rehearsals
Mondays 5:30–6:30pm at Cardiff Club Aruma, 35 Aruma Place, Cardiff
Cost
Your first session is free, then a monthly donation (suggested $50, or $35 concession)
Join the choir

Sustainable Sounds

Make a Change

This song was written collaboratively by local high school students, Registered Music Therapist Caitlin MacGregor and Music Therapy students Louise Gleeson and Rhys Tranter, as part of Sustainable Sounds, a school-based environmental songwriting workshop.

Sustainable Sounds is an initiative of Play Anything Music Therapy, made possible by the Youth Climate Action grant through City of Newcastle and the Bloomberg Foundation.

Questions

Things people often ask

New to music therapy? The AMTA’s free booklet, Music Therapy Changes Lives, is a great place to start.

What happens in a music therapy session?

Every session is different, because it’s built around you and the goals we’re working toward. Your therapist starts by getting to know you: what you respond to, what you enjoy, and what you want to work on, whether that’s communication, confidence, movement or connection.

From there, a session might involve playing instruments together, singing, writing a song, improvising, moving to music or listening and talking about it. It’s all purposeful, and your therapist tracks progress over time and adjusts as you go.

Do I need to be musical?

No. No musical experience is necessary to take part in and benefit from music therapy. We can help you engage in meaningful and fun music experiences, wherever you are at.

Who can benefit from music therapy?

We work with people of all ages and abilities, including those with autism, ADHD, developmental delay, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and Parkinson’s, among many others. Whatever your needs, we tailor each session to suit you.

Is music therapy funded through the NDIS?

Yes. Music therapy is an approved support under the NDIS category Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living Skills.

Play Anything is an NDIS registered provider. We support participants who are self-managed, plan-managed and Agency-managed.

Is music therapy scientifically proven?

Yes. There is a large and growing body of research demonstrating the benefits of music therapy for people at all stages of life and with a range of diagnoses. In Australia, music therapists are required to have completed a master’s degree or equivalent and hold current registration with the Australian Music Therapy Association.

Get started

Ready to get started?

Send us a referral, ask a question, or come in for a relaxed cuppa and a look around the studio first. We support self-managed, plan-managed and Agency-managed NDIS participants.

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