My Musical Background
I have been singing and making music for as long as I can remember and song-writing has always been a natural part of this. I am thrilled to be able to share my music with you, whether it be through my compositions or as a music therapy practitioner.
As the inaugural music therapist at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, I had the opportunity to build the music therapy program and support children and their families in Oncology and Rehabilitation. I also had the opportunity to establish music therapy as part of a new multi-disciplinary clinic for girls with Rett Syndrome.
Continuing in paediatrics, I worked for several years at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Brisbane, and developed two resources for them, including a CD-ROM for young people with acquired brain injury, and a DVD for families with medically fragile babies.
I also have experience in working in the aged care sector, disability services and Early Intervention.
In May, 2021, I completed the neurologic music therapy training with the The Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy. NMT is a research-based clinical model that has its foundations in neuroscience and uses evidence-based techniques with populations affected by neurologic disease or trauma. This includes stroke, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, cerebral palsy and autism.
The NMT Academy is internationally recognised and describes NMT as “a standardised system of clinical techniques that uses the functional perception of all properties of music to train and retrain brain and behaviour function” – The Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy website (nmtacademy.co).
Sonance Professional Music Therapy
Sonance Professional Music Therapy is my private music therapy business operating in Brisbane’s northern suburbs. With more than 25 years experience in the field, my goal is to provide exceptional programs tailored to support the unique needs of clients and their families.
Guest speaking
As part of my advocacy for music therapy, I have presented at various conferences and workshops. These have included the National Music Therapy Association Conference (AMTA), the World Congress of Music Therapy, the National Association of Loss and Grief (NALAG) and Quota International. I have been a guest singer for “Roses in the Ocean”, an organisation dedicated to supporting those who have been affected by suicide and participated in interviews with commercial media channels and newspapers.
If you would like me to come and speak with your organisation about how music therapy could benefit your families or stakeholders, please get in touch.
Karen Elliott – Music Therapist | Composer | Musician
Sonance Professional Music Therapy
Brisbane, QLD Australia
Karen Elliott
Professional Music Therapist
Composer and Musician
Sonance Professional Music Therapy
Brisbane, QLD Australia
