A YOUNG boy was given an exciting musical experience as part of a podcast with a very special host.
Oliver Thomas, 13, joined Dame Evelyn Glennie on her podcast to explore the benefits of music therapy.
Dame Glennie, a premier solo percussionist, is world renowned having acquired more than 100 international awards.
She shone a light on how this form of therapy benefits children and families in the episode focused on East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).
Oliver, who lives near Manningtree, lives with severe mental and physical disabilities resulting from a rare chromosomal abnormality.
He needs help with all aspects of everyday life, plus various medications and therapies. EACH has supported him for five years.
Oliver lives with his parents Bryn and Angela, and attends Shorefields School, in Clacton.
His father, Mr Thomas, said: “We had no respite until EACH stepped in to help.
“Over the past 12 months we haven’t been able to access any in-house help from the charity because of shielding, but the online music therapy sessions with Ray and similar sessions with Oliver’s school have been welcome.
“Oliver has not been to school for a year now, so the interaction he gets in the online sessions is needed. Angela and I also enjoy these gatherings as any contact with others is very valuable at this time.”
As part of the podcast, Oliver listens and plays along to a song by EACH music therapist Ray Travasso, while Dame Glennie also joins in.
She said: “I was so thrilled when EACH agreed to participate in The Evelyn Glennie Podcast. Their work is all about building bridges, actively listening and making a difference.
“The highlight was meeting Oliver who gave me a jolly good lesson on how to play the sleigh bells.”
Meanwhile, Ray Travasso oversees the delivery of music therapy to more than 60 organisations across the region.
He added: “Oliver’s got that amazing innate response to music that we all have. We can’t take away the pain, we can’t fix things, but we can ease a lot of that.”
The Evelyn Glennie Podcast aims to discover how listening impacts on people’s sense of wellbeing, mental and physical health, relationships, communication and understanding.
Oliver features in the final episode of series three, now available online.
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