The British Association for Music Therapy (BAMT) held the first National Music Therapy Week from 6th to 11th June 2011.

The purpose of the week was to increase awareness of how music therapy can improve the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. See below for some of the events which took place around the country.

Music therapy uses the unique properties of music to help people who are emotionally isolated to communicate and express themselves, sometimes for the first time in their lives. It also supports recovery and management of medical conditions such as neurological disease and brain injury.

All practising music therapists are registered with the Health Professions Council. Music therapists work in health, education and social care. Many are self employed and others are employed by statutory bodies, or music therapy charities around the UK which are reliant on public contributions to fund their life-changing work.

BAMT is a new professional body representing music therapy and music therapists in the UK. In April 2011, it replaced the Association of Professional Music Therapists and the British Society for Music Therapy. Having charitable status, the aim of BAMT is to support and promote the highest standards of practice, research and public information to further the advance of music therapy for public benefit.

BAMT Music Therapy Week events 6th - 11th June 2011

1. Music and Information Event at Sutton High Street on 12th June

2. Launch of the Music Therapy Outcomes Star at Coram Parents Centre, 49 Mecklenburgh Square, London WC1N 2QA on Wednesday 8th June

3. An Introduction to Music Therapy at The Komedia on 6th June

4. Listen to the extraordinary improvisations designed to celebrate Music Therapy Week with Henry Dagg's Sharpsichord!   http://www.youtube.com/user/MT?Week2011