Music Therapy ‘Taster’ Sessions
In partnership with Āhuru Mōwai Trust
The Little Musical Caravan partners with Āhuru Mōwai Trust – a charitable organisation supporting whānau who have tamariki with additional needs – to offer low-cost, accessible music therapy ‘taster’ sessions during AMT’s high-sensory evenings.
Whether you have never experienced music therapy before or simply want to explore how your child responds to relational music-making before committing to ongoing therapy, these sessions offer a gentle, welcoming way to ‘test drive’ our practice.
What is an Āhuru Mōwai Trust Sensory Session?
Āhuru Mōwai Trust runs regular sensory play sessions at Chipmunks in Tawa on Thursday evenings (5:30 pm – 8:00 pm) for families with neurodivergent tamariki or children with disabilities and learning differences.
Through our partnership, families attending AMT’s high-sensory sessions can access 1:1 music therapy taster sessions in a dedicated, quiet space.
What our ‘Taster’ Sessions Include:
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A One-Off Session: A single initial session to explore whether music therapy is a good fit for your child.
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Single Term Blocks: A full term block (usually 9–10 weeks) for tamariki to ‘test drive’ music therapy in a safe, familiar environment.
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Written Summary: An email summary following your child’s session detailing their engagement, strengths, and musical responses. Should you choose to transition into ongoing private 1:1 therapy with us (outside of the Trust), this summary can be used in place of a full initial music therapy assessment, saving your family time and money.
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Cost & Whānau Access
- Cost: $15 per session
- Payable: At the front desk upon arrival
- Includes: A 30-minute one-on-one music therapy session plus full whānau entry to Āhuru Mōwai Trust’s 2.5-hour high-sensory play session at Chipmunks in Tawa (Thursday evenings, 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm).
Meet Your Taster Session Therapist
Deb Bellringer — NZ Registered Music Therapist (MThNZ)
“It is such a pleasure to partner with Āhuru Mōwai Trust to offer music therapy at Chipmunks. The sessions are full of energy, curiosity, and joy! I love introducing families to music therapy, building warm relationships, and seeing tamariki grow in confidence as they explore instruments in a safe, affirming space.”
Community Impact & Caregiver Feedback
We regularly survey our sensory session whānau to measure the impact of these sessions. Caregivers consistently share that music therapy helps support emotional regulation, communication, and a sense of community belonging:
AMT’s sensory sessions are really helpful for bringing families together and creating community support.
— Sensory Session Whānau Member.
How Taster Sessions & Enrolment Work
We offer two simple ways to get started with AMT ‘taster’ sessions:
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Direct Enrolment: If you already know that you would like to sign up for a term block of weekly music therapy ‘taster’ sessions through AMT, you can complete our full registration form straight away. (Please note that all term block registrations are subject to a successful one-off ‘taster’ first, either held during the school holidays or in a cancellation slot during the term.)
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One-Off ‘Taster’ First: If you prefer a trial session to check that music therapy is a fit before registering your child, you can complete the short Expression of Interest form below. If the trial goes well and you choose to go ahead with the term block, we will guide you through completing the full registration form before the term begins – and we are always happy to help you fill this out if needed!