Music Matters

At Cornwall Music Service Trust we’re finding ways to address the interruption caused by Covid-19.

We need your help to provide bursaries so that families in financial difficulties don’t have to stop music lessons, and that new students can start. And also to fund music therapy sessions for children and adults who have had their mental health affected by the pandemic.

Bursaries for online music lessons

For many, learning online is the only way we can help them access music lessons. We’re creating an eLearning platform that will allow students to continue learning with high quality video lessons, online resources, and live online teaching. Not only will this help with any future disruption from Covid, but it will be a permanent resource that will allow us to offer music to young people living in the far-flung and rurally isolated parts of Cornwall and give them the same opportunities by being part of an online music community.

Through our work in Cornwall we see the power music has to enrich and transform lives. Music sparks off a lot of personal and educational development. Whether its learning to focus and develop the physical skills needed to play an instrument, the social skills of playing in a band and learning how to collaborate, or developing the creativity to write your own music, there is so much that music can do to enrich lives.

In 2020 schools closed, and even after reopening many have been unable to provide Covid-safe spaces for music lessons. 2021 is looking rocky too. Choirs, bands and orchestras haven’t been able to meet in person. For many young people Covid has thrown their musical and personal journeys off track.

Funding for music therapy

At Cornwall Music Service Trust we also have a music therapy team. These qualified healthcare professionals work with people of all ages. What we need funding for most as we go into 2021 is supporting both children and adults who have had their mental health affected by the pandemic. Anxieties around health (their own or their families), experiences of loss, social isolation and coping with rapid change are all issues people need support with. We can help through in person music therapy and online sessions. Being expressive and feeling supported by the relationship with a music therapist can help lessen the impact of these challenges and we want to help where we can.

Give the gift of music!

As we are a charity, you can use gift aid to increase the value of your donation. And match funding is also available from Creative Cornwall Calling (from Cornwall Council) which will boost anything you donate. So whether small or large, please donate what you can to help us in our mission to transform lives through music.