Learning Radical Acceptance through Music

In 2024, a group of young adults played over an hour of live music in front of a packed room at Coast’s Mt Pleasant Clubhouse.

The concert came out of their music therapy sessions. Thanks to you, dozens of sites across Coast, including the Clubhouse, have access to regular music therapy sessions.

At the Clubhouse, both youth and adults can spend time with music therapist Min. She starts sessions with breathing exercises and drumming, adapting the rest of their time to each group or individual.

After several months of regular music therapy sessions, many of the young adults felt ready to share what they had learnt.

For months before, staff and students practiced together and apart. “People really committed to coming to practices” one staff member shared. And it brought them together as a group too.

Ups and Downs

One young member played bass for the group. “I’ve been practicing. I’ve been learning how to play bass guitar since like January.”

On the day of the show, the sheet music looked different to what they were used to. But through dedicated practice, a positive attitude and some of the skills she’s been learning thanks to you at programs like brain training, they were able to practice radical acceptance. “I just kept going. I did my best.”

And they’ve also been able to manage the emotional low after the show .“I got kind of sad for a couple days because it was over. But I’m ok now.”

“I had fun!” they concluded.

The group has already started planning out songs for their next show and is working on picking out a band name.

Inspiring Others

And the impact goes beyond the young adults themselves. Clubhouse members were inspired by the concert and how the youths’ dedication and focus paid off. “It sounded really good!”  

Some are eyeing up spots on the line-up for next year too.

Thank you to our friends at Music Heals and our many generous donors for making young adults feel that they have a safe space to learn and grow.