9 Reasons To Work At Play Anything Music Therapy

Play Anything has recently relocated to a fantastic new studio in the heart of Newcastle. This exciting move means we can now help more people the region access music therapy. We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic music therapist to join the team.

Need convincing? Here are the top 12 reasons why working at Play Anything could be the next exciting stage of your career..

1. Flexible work options.

We understand that modern work-life balance requires flexibility. Due to high demand for our services we can provide you with the amount of work that best suits you, whether that is one day per week or a full-time roster. We schedule breaks between sessions to give you plenty of time for writing notes, having a cuppa or taking a deep breath.

2. Clinic-based work

With our centrally located Newcastle clinic, our clients come to us. Working at Play Anything means all sessions take place at our premises where you will have access to a huge library of instruments and all the conveniences of a workplace. Plus, no more lugging instruments to and from the car, wrestling traffic or fending off overly-friendly pet alpacas.

Spacious therapy rooms full of light.

3. Training and career development

Carlin has presented at staff training events, national and international conferences and online webinars, establishing Play Anything as a leader in the field of technology and music therapy. Carlin is passionate about sharing his knowledge and advocating for the benefits of technology in music therapy to creatively meet the needs of the people we work with.

Whether you consider yourself a budding-music technologist or are simply interested learning more about the use of technology in clinical work, you will gain a broad range of skills in adaptive instruments, music recording and production and utilising innovative tools for delivering online interventions.

4. Modern Perks

It’s the little things that count, right?

To make your workday as smooth and stress-free as possible we provide a few extra perks that make your day just that little bit nicer.

Dedicated lockable personal locker.

A personal place to store your things can make all the difference when you need that Muesli Bar to get you through the rest of the afternoon, or a secure spot you can leave your valuables.

In-house computers.

No need to lug your laptop to and from work- We have an iMac and MacBook Pros with your own separate user account.

Strong plant game.

It’s just nice to be around happy, healthy plants.

All the things you would expect (and more).

Kitchen facilities, ducted aircon, on-site parking and… Table tennis!

5. Recording Studio

A great setup means that inspiration can be captured quickly and easily. Quality recordings provide an important personal artefact that is treasured for many years to come.

Our dedicated recording studio boasts:

• 21.5 inch iMac with range of DAW software installed (Logic Pro, Ableton, FL Studio, Reaper).

• Komplete NI Audio Interface

• ESI Aktiv 5 Studio Monitors

• Shure SM58 dynamic microphone

• Audio Technica AT2020 condensor microphone

• M Audio Axion 61 MIDI keyboard

• Lots more!

Plug in and let the creativity flow.

6. Huuuuuuge (quality) instrument library

We have a range of diverse and wonderful instruments for you to use in your sessions. As well as some unique instruments from various corners of the globe we have all the standards you would expect like guitars, percussion, digital pianos.

There are too many instruments to name in a single blog post..

But here are a few to whet your appetite:

Celtic harp, Swarmandal, Cello and violin, Djembes, Roland electronic drum kit, Bass Guitar, Steel Tongue Drum, Autoharp.

And lots of music tech devices:

Ableton Push, Alesis Sampled, iSwitch, Roli Blocks, Skoog.

Ableton Push is a powerful piece of hardware

7. Job Security

What a crazy time we are living in, hey. Play Anything is agile and innovative. We were able to quickly respond to the challenges of the Covid-19 Pandemic and move the majority of our face-to-face work to Telehealth during the lockdown. We have the experience, infrastructure and resources to continue providing services in the event of another lockdown. That means job security for you and continuity for our clients.

8. Newcastle is AMAZING

I’m not surprised when my Sydney friends visit and comment “Wow, people in Newcastle are so friendly.. Strangers smile and say ‘Hello’ when I’m walking down the street!”

Newcastle really does have a wonderful, laid-back lifestyle. That’s why I moved here 3 years ago. Whether you are contemplating a sea-change or you don’t mind a commute, there are so many good reasons to spend time in this city.

The Beach 🏄

Play Anything is a 5 minute drive from Newcastle’s iconic Bar Beach. Or if you prefer a more serene dip, Newcastle Ocean Baths are also just down the road.

Culture, Food, Coffee! 🎭 🍜 ☕

Play Anything is located in the heart of Newcastle, surrounded by coffee shops, cafes and restaurants. Newcastle Art Gallery is a short walk away, as are half a dozen independent galleries located in the precinct. Directly across the road we are blessed with Jam’s Karaoke Bar.

Nature 🌿

If you want to get out of the big smoke for a bit there are heaps of great bush walk adventures close by. For an easy 2 hour walk I suggest Glenrock Lagoon!

The Bogey Hole is one of Newcastle's best kept secrets.

9. Welcoming and Inclusive

Inclusivity is at the heart of everything we do. Our core mission is to create a space that is safe, welcoming and nurturing for people of all ages, abilities, cultures, sexual orientations, beliefs and walks of life. We work on the lands of the Awabakal people. Sovereignty was never ceded.

Head to https://www.playanything.com.au/apply to register your interest.

Online Songwriting - An opportunity to connect, learn and express yourself

As my music therapy work has now completely shifted to online, I've found that the online format provides a great opportunity to explore Therapeutic Songwriting activities.

In her hugely influential book Therapeutic Songwriting, Felicity Baker, a registered music therapist outlines the benefits, challenges and range of ways in which therapeutic songwriting can be applied in music therapy.

Therapeutic Songwriting includes a range of activities such as composing music, writing lyrics, adapting existing songs, recording and notating, between a therapist and client as part of a treatment plan.

Songwriting can be used to address a range of goals including:

• Exploring and expressing emotions

• Address relationship issues

• Focus on coping strategies

• Developing sense of self and identity

• Rehearse social skills

• Engage in life review.

• Improve focus and attention

• Executive functioning tasks such as planning, sequencing, organising.

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What Songwriting Means To Me

I have been composing music (or more precisely, randomly playing clusters of notes (What a liberating feeling!)) since I first sat down at a piano as a kid. In the intervening years I have honed my craft, writing music in bands, composing ambient music and delivering songwriting workshops in Australia and abroad. Recently I have embarked on a personal challenge to write and record one song each day (Currently up to Day 52 at time of writing).

I have always loved being able to help others find their voice and express themselves in creative and original ways. I truly believe that any song which comes from a place of sincere self-expression is beautiful and valid, regardless of it's aesthetic merit, or whether it fits neatly into established conventions or genres.

Creative freedom, self expression, having fun... what songwriting is all about!

With my specialist knowledge of music technology I am privileged to be able to use and adapt a range of tools to assist people of all abilities to create (and share!) their own original music. The feeling of pride and accomplishment and wonder which is evident when a person creates music which is an original expression of self is priceless.

In my online music therapy sessions I've been using a range of tools for collaborative songwriting including:

flat.io (online notation for creating a score);

Soundtrap (Collaborative online digital audio workstation); &

Chrome Song Maker (Great for beginners)

Chrome Song Maker is fun, easy and has great built-in features.

In coming weeks I'll be creating a video series exploring how to use each of these tools.

The Songwriting Challenge!

The best way to develop as a songwriter is to do it regularly. With this in mind I have created a Songwriting Challenge with five daily songwriting prompts.

Don't stress if you miss a day - the main thing is to have fun, learn something new and get creative.

Free pdf download of the songwriting challenge can be accessed here:

https://www.playanything.com.au/freebies

Free Educational Resources for Kids and Teenagers

I love creating resources. And right now with many students at home, the need for quality, creative, engaging (and free!) resources has never been greater.

Each week I will be creating a new educational resource to share on my website.

The first resource I have created is a weekly art journal I created using Book Creator. If you haven't heard of Book Creator before, I would highly recommend you check it out. It's a great tool which you can use to make your own eBooks with text, pictures and sound recordings. Plus it's free.

Routine is so important to all of us. When things are feeling uncertain in the world, a daily practice and consistent, predictable activities can help reduce anxiety and worry.

With that in mind, I created What Can You Draw? - A simple art journal which has five drawing challenges for kids (one for each weekday).

--->Download the easy print pdf<---

Some helpful tips and strategies:

• Set a daily reminder on your phone to prompt when it is time to begin the activity.

• Too easy? Scaffold the activity (e.g. "Can you draw four completely different trees?" "Can you draw a monkey in the branches?")

• Get involved! The best way to encourage a child is to get stuck in is to do the activity with them.

Want More Educational Resources?

Check back next week for more free learning resources from Play Anything or take a look at our selection of educational eBooks for all ages and abilities.