A New Partnership in Music Therapy: The Otakar Kraus Music Trust
We are pleased to announce a new partnership with The Otakar Kraus Music Trust (OKMT), to whom we'll be lending our support in their efforts to reach more people in need with their versatile and inspiring Music Therapy initiatives.
Music therapy helps individuals with social, communication or emotional challenges to develop confidence, self-expression, social skills, speech and communication, and can alleviate stress and depression. No musical skill or knowledge is needed to benefit from music therapy.
OKMT provides 1-1 and small group music therapy for people of all ages with a wide range of needs, bringing verifiable positive cognitive and physical benefits: listening to familiar tunes and following rhythm while playing percussion instruments, aid and assist memory recall, attention, pattern recognition, and auditory perception - functional for children with developmental delays in language and communication, and for older people suffering from deteriorating cognitive conditions like Alzheimer's.
Music therapy helps to improve motor skills and hand-eye coordination for people with conditions like Parkinson's, Cerebral Palsy, who are recovering from stroke, or those with motor skill challenges arising from conditions like Autism or Downs' Syndrome.
OKMT also runs OK Music School, where 75 children and young people with disabilities are taught with specialised methods to play a musical instrument and perform in 2 annual concerts. Some students take music exams and all gain confidence, self-esteem and social interaction skills, as their overall well-being and development flourish.
If you'd like to know more about their programs and events, or donate, head over to OKMT's website, https://www.okmtrust.org.uk/.
