Read Sasha’s story
Music has been in my life from an early age. Growing up in the north of England, I was taken to a local brass band concert and my mum asked me what I would like to play. I vividly remember choosing the drum kit, which I think surprised even me as my mum and brother both played a brass instrument. For about seven years, the four of us would go to band practice every Friday, my dad on Bb tuba, brother on Eb tuba, mum on tenor horn and me at the back playing percussion. We had no choice but to have a massive car!
When I was 17, I played in an orchestra in Manchester and thought about going to music school, however my little sister came along and instead I learnt how to change nappies and look after a baby, the best curve ball ever! I ended up taking a year out and volunteering with a community theatre company in Toronto. I began to learn about the different access points of music and meet really diverse communities.
I came back to the UK and studied BSc Psychology at Goldsmiths and specialised in musical ability in children who were neurodivergent. My supervisor explored the more positive sides of being neurodiverse and I loved it. I went on and completed an MSc in neurodevelopmental disorders, researching adults with learning disabilities and experiences of mental health. Giving space and time to people to express their views was life-changing for me. I began to teach inclusive dance with Corali Dance Company and Music within special needs schools in Camden and then Islington. After having lost music for about 6 years, it came back in a way that I was not expecting.
I had found my teenage years and early 20s quite hard mentally and been exploring many different ways of looking after my wellbeing and I saw similar things with my friends and colleagues. Music, dancing, family, friends and being outside were all support for me through difficult times.
Then in 2019, two more big curve balls happened – one that hit the world, COVID-19, and my dad being diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. My own wellbeing practice was so vital at this point, to get through the two and a half years. I experienced so many different things personally that gave me so much more understanding about disability, mental health, caring responsibility, managing and supporting staff, safeguarding, taking space for myself and grief and loss. I became an advocate for my whole family, wanting to challenge systems that did not put the person receiving the care or support first.
Throughout these two years, my dad shared all his music with me and it held us together when other things were disappearing. Finding Orchestras for All showed me that there are places that value wellbeing completely, every young person, every staff member and everyone that we connect with, and it makes me excited that I can use the skills and knowledge that I developed to contribute to creating spaces that support wellbeing.