An appeal is being made for specialist music therapists to come the aid of mid-Essex children with special needs and learning difficulties.

Relatives say their children make big advances with this form of therapy involving singing, playing with instruments and interacting with other children.

Because of the difficulty of finding enough therapists, group music therapy sessions in Chelmsford have been suspended all year, although individual tuition still continues part-financed by charity Open Door in the county town.

Children with the severest difficulties have responded to the sounds and rhythms during the therapy. Autistic children find for the first time communication through music with people other than their parents, says Open Door's present chairman Alan Chamberlain.

Open Door was formed in 1994 to raise the £10,000 a year towards paying for therapy-parents who can afford to are asked to meet around half the costs.

The individual private cost of a half-hour one to one session can be prohibitive for parents.

Mr Chamberlain added: "But the field is highly specialised, therapists usually not only having a music degree, but a diploma in Music Therapy and a deep emotional commitment to the children.

"It can be a very draining task for the therapist although the outcomes for the children are usually very rewarding."

He said: "The problem has been finding people with the qualifications and time - and this year we have been unable to operate one to one sessions in Colchester and Brentwood because there is no therapist available although we have made arrangements for both those towns from September.

"What we desperately want to do is find somebody who can run the group music therapy again on Saturdays, probably at a special school in Chelmsford."

Anybody who can help either as a therapist or assistant is asked to call Andrew Quixley, Open Door's secretary on 01277 210302

Published Monday, April 8, 2002