Pete McDonald graduated with a Bachelor of Music majoring in Jazz piano performance, receiving the Student of the Year award, and spent a long time practicing, gigging, teaching, recording, composing, and other music related activities aiming to pay off a mortgage and get two kids through school.
After returning to study and completing his Masters of Music Therapy, as well as training in Neurologic Music Therapy, he now focuses on clinical work (along with the occasional gig with The Groove Therapists). This includes working with children with special needs, adults with disability and clients with dementia. One of Pete's many strengths is his ability to connect with clients in a fun and engaging way to help them achieve their goals.
His Music Therapy work with older adults has included weekly visits to facilities owned by Anglicare Retirement Villages, Hammondcare, Catholic Healthcare and Heritage Care. He was part of the initial launch of Hammondcare's "Arts on Prescription" project, funded by the Australian Government with research performed by the University of NSW. He also featured on the ABC Catalyst TV episode "Healthy Ageing", which looked into research on how socialisation can impact the brain.
His work with children with special needs has included providing music therapy services for Sound Expression, Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia, KU Children's Services, Hebersham Public School (Autism unit), Giant Steps, The Ponds School, and Tallowood School.
Pete is also a guest lecturer for the Masters of Creative Music Therapy at Western Sydney University.
Grace holds a Masters of Creative Music Therapy from Western Sydney University and a Bachelor of Arts in Media from Macquarie University majoring in music production and performance.
Grace’s music therapy experience includes working in education and health facilities with children and adolescents with a range of disabilities. She specialises in designing and facilitating music therapy programs for early intervention and is skilled in delivering capacity-building strategies using music to support children and adults with a hearing impairment.
Within a music therapy context, Grace draws on her improvisation, aural and rhythmic skills to connect and build positive therapeutic relationships with clients to support the achievement of their non-musical goals.
As well as her career as a Music Therapist, Grace is an experienced vocalist, pianist, guitarist and drummer and performs as part of a band called The Groove Therapists.
In this episode, Grace and Pete talk with Joe their new album: New Songs for Music Therapy Volume I.