Using Music

Using Music Supporting the use of music to create happy and inclusive learning opportunities for children.

14/01/2026

Starting the new year and looking for new ideas. I’d love to hear what one song, rhythm game, rhyme, story or activity you’re using with children.

The start of the new year can feel big.New children. New families. New expectations.But connection and learning doesn’t ...
12/01/2026

The start of the new year can feel big.

New children. New families. New expectations.

But connection and learning doesn’t come from doing more. Sometimes it comes from doing less!

It comes from being present with children, and letting things start gently.

Slowing down the rhythm of the day, and reducing the pressure to have it all perfect from the start of the year can help.

So follow the children’s lead. Sing a song, have a dance party, listen to nature.

Use simple music experiences that need no extra planning to connect and have fun!

03/01/2026

Hey 2026!

Last year I aimed for a little more ease in my personal and professional life.

We could find ways to measure whether I achieved this or not.

But spoiler - I don’t want to see my year laid out in front of me. I felt the epic highs in my heart. I felt the gut wrenching lows in my bones. And I plodded through all the “meh” in between.

For now I’m loving a restful and restorative Summer. A few thoughts and hopes for 2026 are starting to bubble to the surface.

One major one is to resist the pace that AI, Chat GPT, marketing and social media offer. I work and live best when going slow and steady, with time and space to think, reflect and create.

I know AI could write everything for me... but call me old fashioned, I don’t want it to.

I used to love to sit down to write a letter, postcard, or even a long email to communicate and connect with my loved ones.

I move into the new year remembering the ease and joy in my years when the platforms and technology that’s at our fingertips didn’t yet exist.

So in between boardgames and hanging out with my children, I’ve embellished my hard copy 2026 diary.

Wishing you a happy and creative Summer.

Pip x

15/12/2025

Reframing joy after trauma.

I hope you can invite small moments of happiness into your day today.

15/12/2025

Using music to process emotions.

As we near the end of 2025, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the year that’s been and wish you and those you love...
10/12/2025

As we near the end of 2025, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the year that’s been and wish you and those you love a wonderful festive season.

It’s been a challenging year for our Victorian early childhood sector. Our work with educators and providers to prioritise child safety, connection and wellbeing has been more important than ever.

Highlights from Using Music this year have been:
- We have continued to partner with educators and teachers in-person across Victorian kindergarten services
- I was awarded the Australian Music Therapy Association’s Ruth Bright Clinical Excellence Award
- Dr Meg Steele has led a Program Evaluation for our 3 SRF programs
- We have successfully moved and enjoyed our first year in our HQ in Mentone

A special thank you to everyone who participated in our Program Evaluation with Meg.

The evaluation found that our Using Music programs enhance Educator confidence and capacity through mentoring, hands-on experiences, and simple, fun musical activities that effectively engage children.

Music has been able to be naturally incorporated into daily routines, promoted inclusion, communication, and supported children’s holistic development.

And importantly, the programs have fostered staff wellbeing and team cohesion. The evaluation showed that the programs are a joyful, low-barrier model of inclusive, high-impact professional learning.

It is an honour to partner with you and support professional learning and reflection to meet your learning and child development goals.

We have loved hearing from past, current and new kindergarten services who would like to work with us through their SRF in 2026. Please reach out if you are planning on working with us so we can save space.

I look forward to slowing the pace over Summer and continuing to offer capacity-building learning and ideas for using music for you, and the children you teach and care for in the new year.

Warm wishes,
Pip

Image: Galy our 10 month old pup minding Santa's chair at Studley Park Boathouse

After my recent presentations in Music Therapy, I’ve had a lot of questions, comments, emails and messages.So I've opene...
12/11/2025

After my recent presentations in Music Therapy, I’ve had a lot of questions, comments, emails and messages.

So I've opened up my calendar for some supervision sessions before year’s end.

If you are interested in a one-off session to reflect, debrief, and refocus before the end of the year, or to explore your program or business goals, then I'd love to support you.

Link in bio.

Image is from last night's title slide: My Using Music Story at the AMTA Vic Branch Professional Development Session.

It’s World Teacher’s Day!Let’s celebrate the amazing teachers across our Country who show up to support and inspire chil...
30/10/2025

It’s World Teacher’s Day!

Let’s celebrate the amazing teachers across our Country who show up to support and inspire children every single day.

Is there something you could say or do when you see a Teacher today?

Happy 4 Birthday Using Music!Here are 4 things we are incredibly proud of on our 4th birthday:1. We have supported aroun...
26/10/2025

Happy 4 Birthday Using Music!

Here are 4 things we are incredibly proud of on our 4th birthday:

1. We have supported around 300 early learning services in Victoria through our professional learning programs.

2. We have reached over 20,000 children through partnering with early childhood communities.

3. We have supported regional and rural communities to access learning and support.

4. Evaluation findings highlight that we are successfully helping Early Childhood Educators and children’s learning and development outcomes.

We are honoured to partner with the amazing teams teaching and caring for young children in early childhood services across the state. We look forward to continuing to support Educators and families to use music to improve child communication, wellbeing and inclusion.

Happy Birthday to Meg!Using Music is beyond grateful to have Dr Meg as our Research and Development Partner. But I'm eve...
23/10/2025

Happy Birthday to Meg!

Using Music is beyond grateful to have Dr Meg as our Research and Development Partner.

But I'm even more grateful for 20 years with Meg as my peer, colleague, mentor and friend.

Have a wonderful birthday Meg!

Pip x

What a huge few days celebrating the 50th Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA) conference!I'm still in shock afte...
20/10/2025

What a huge few days celebrating the 50th Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA) conference!

I'm still in shock after being awarded the Ruth Bright Clinical Excellence Award for the best paper on clinical practice. The award honours Dr Bright's pioneering role in establishing music therapy in Australia and her work as a music therapist. I'm so honoured 💖

My presentation was titled: 'Innovative Partnerships: Expanding the Reach of Music Therapy in Early Childhood' and captured the last 4 years of Using Music School Readiness programs in Victoria.

A huge thank you to my brilliant colleagues , .therapy.supervision, .au and for the collaboration on our panel presentation 'Being Differently : Innovative and Impactful Music Therapy Practice in Complex Systems'.

The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. A highlight was leading a reflection using Nat Bartsch's music, with in the room!! All the Fizzy Feelings!

I experienced all the emotions being amongst hundreds of music therapy friends, colleagues, pioneers and supporters.

Thank you to and the AMTA conference committee for creating a brilliant and inspirational 50th conference celebration!

We are celebrating 2 incredible milestones with the Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA): 1. AMTA's 50th national...
06/10/2025

We are celebrating 2 incredible milestones with the Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA):

1. AMTA's 50th national conference and
2. 50 years of AMTA!

On day 1 of the national conference, Pip will present Using Music's innovative model of capacity-building and partnership learning for strengthening the reach of music therapy to support educational disadvantage in early childhood communities in Victoria.

On day 2, Meg is leading a panel including Pip Reid, Minky van der Walt, Dr Liz McLean and Dr Kate McMahon to discuss the challenges across education, healthcare and community mental health sectors and offer stories of innovative approaches to music therapy.

We (Pip and Meg) will both be attending the conference and are looking forward to celebrating with our music therapy colleagues and friends!

Will we see you there?!


therapy.supervision .au

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85a Balcombe Road
Mentone, VIC
3195

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