Sound Expression

26/12/2025

WHAT YOU SEE:
Bobby’s copy of his draft lyrics and a snapshot of him at the piano, working through his song ideas.

WHAT’S REALLY HAPPENING:
Behind the page of handwritten lyrics is meaningful music therapy work supporting learning, wellbeing and self-expression.

Music therapy uses music intentionally to support non-musical goals such as focus, emotional regulation, communication and confidence.

In his music therapy sessions, Bobby has been working together with his music therapist Michelle How through supported parody songwriting, using a familiar song as a structured and motivating framework. By rewriting the lyrics of 'Empire', a fan-made song of Saja Boys, Bobby practised planning and sequencing ideas, sustaining attention and expressing his own thoughts. Drawing on his interest in Animal Crossing - from bells and trees to crops and tools - helped him stay engaged, regulated and motivated throughout the task.

Lines such as “Bow down, the bells are ours” and “Scatter the seeds and water the plants” show how Bobby creatively reinterpreted language while staying connected to the song’s structure.

Although the song is still a work in progress, Bobby is already looking ahead with excitement. He’s keen to eventually add his own instrumental parts, experiment with mixing, and record himself singing the finished piece, which highlights growing confidence, ownership and self-directed engagement.

These shared musical experiences help build transferable life skills such as task persistence, creative problem-solving and communication, supporting progress beyond the therapy room.

🎶 Watch this space 👀 - Bobby’s song is still growing!

23/12/2025

22/12/2025

WHAT YOU SEE:
Jerry and his music therapist Cathy playing "The 12 Days of Christmas" together — Jerry plays the melody on the tuned bells while Cathy supports him on the guitar.

WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING:
Behind this joyful musical moment is some important skill-building work. For Jerry, maintaining focus on a single task can be challenging, particularly during structured activities that require sustained attention. These skills are essential for everyday life, supporting learning, following instructions and completing tasks at school and in daily routines.

Through music therapy with Cathy, Jerry practises these skills in a motivating and enjoyable way. Playing the tuned bells supports his ability to stay engaged, listen closely and participate within a shared musical experience, all while remaining regulated within the activity.

In this session, Jerry independently works out the melody on the bells as Cathy provides a steady musical framework on the guitar. This shared musical interaction helps Jerry sustain attention, anticipate musical changes and follow the sequence of the song from beginning to end. These moments of focus and connection help build transferable daily living skills such as task persistence, shared participation and working alongside others in a supportive and encouraging environment.

21/12/2025

Creating friendships that go beyond the therapy room 💛

From shared music in Music Therapy group to a night out at Bondi Pizza, it’s pretty special to see these connections growing in real life too. Moments like this remind us that music therapy isn’t just about what happens in-session, but about building confidence, connection and friendships that carry on outside our clinic walls.

20/12/2025

And that’s a wrap for the year at Sound Expression. It has been a privilege to be part of your journey this year, and we’re so grateful for the trust you’ve placed in us.

Our team will be taking a short break over the next few weeks, and we look forward to seeing you again in 2026.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas from all of us at Sound Expression 🎄

10/12/2025

WHY CHOOSE SOUND EXPRESSION MUSIC THERAPY?

At Sound Expression, families stay because we’re steady and reliable!

Our music therapists have been with us for years and have extensive experience!

That consistency means you get to build strong, trusting relationships with the same familiar face — someone who truly knows you and can support you to reach your goals.

Ready to start? Call us on 0416 288 917 or contact Iani Sujono iani@soundexpression.com.au

07/12/2025

Over the weekend we came together for our End of Year team dinner — a chance to unwind, let our hair down, laugh together and simply enjoy each other's company. It felt so good to switch off for a moment and soak up the fun!

2025 brought its share of challenges. With NDIS reviewing the role of music therapy, our team spent 10 months in uncertainty, waiting to hear whether our work would remain recognised as Therapeutic Support. Not knowing what the future held for our clients, our jobs, or our business was incredibly tough.

But what stood out through it all was the way our team stayed committed, grounded and supportive of one another. That strength is what carried us through — and it’s exactly what we wanted to celebrate over dinner.

A big shoutout to .zungle Korean BBQ for the amazing feast, generous servings and fantastic hosting!

05/12/2025

Saturday vibe at Sound Expression ✨

A buzzing reception, happy chatter, kids zipping through the hallway, cupcakes in the staff room, therapists in their element — we love the rhythm of our Saturdays. It might be our busiest day, but it still carries that weekend energy.

02/12/2025

WHAT ARE PETE AND ANNA DOING???

RMT Pete McDonald and WSU student Anna were mid-session with Ben when they stepped out of the room, leaving Ben and his dad inside. We were curious, so we snapped a quick photo (and Pete caught on to it!). "What are you two doing???"

So here's the back story:

Ben wanted to show Pete and Anna he could play Fur Elise, but his anxiety made it hard to play in front of an “audience”. Asking them to step out gave him the quiet space he needed to prepare at his own pace, regulate his feelings, practise a few notes and build confidence — directly supporting his goals around emotional regulation and autonomy.

When Pete and Anna returned, it created a gentle, manageable version of an “audience”. Ben stayed regulated, worked through his performance anxiety and had a positive, successful moment he could build on.

Fast-forward three weeks — he’s playing new pieces more easily, with more confidence, less anxiety and stronger emotional regulation.

MUSIC THERAPY - there’s always deeper therapeutic work beneath the surface. 🎶

29/11/2025

SUNDAY IS LAUNDRY DAY!

Believe it or not, I now actually enjoy it. There’s something about hanging clothes on the line - it helps me to slow down.

Whether you're a therapist, a parent, a carer or a support worker — we all need time to pause, breathe and reset, because you’re holding so much! You advocate, organise, comfort, plan and keep life moving.

If you haven’t had a moment for yourself lately, here are three gentle places to start:

• A short walk outside — even five minutes helps your body settle
• A quiet drink of something warm — no phone, no rush
• One small boundary — saying no to something that can wait

Self-care doesn’t need to be fancy. It just needs to be real and doable.

We’re committed to looking after ourselves so we can show up well for you — and we hope you give yourself the same permission today.