Julia Dunn works as a music therapist at Bristol Children's
Hospital on a Monday morning, all day Tuesday, all day Wednesday
and a Friday morning. She usually visits the long stay wards each
week with her guitar and a trolley full of percussion instruments.
She can come to your bedside to sing and play music with you and
sometimes runs group sessions in the wards' playrooms. In music
therapy sessions you can explore, play and listen to instruments.
Playing music may help you to express how you are feeling without
the need for words. It may also help you to relax.
Music therapy within the hospital has been found to be
particularly helpful for children who have communication
difficulties, children with sensory impairment, babies who are
beginning to develop early communication skills, children who are
particularly anxious or frightened and those who are in hospital
long term.
If you or your child would like to receive music therapy you can
speak to one of the nurses or the play specialist on your ward or
telephone Julia on ext. 8778.
Julia's post in the hospital is funded by Wallace and Gromit's Grand
Appeal and she is employed by Bristol MusicSpace.
