Tue 4 Mar 2025 - Xenia Horne // Music Therapist
Qualifying as a Music Therapist and establishing your career can be a challenging and intense experience, but an exciting one too.
Engaging in regular CPD helps new Therapists navigate the complexities of different client needs, while building a strong professional foundation and connecting with new peers and mentors. To mark CPD week, a new campaign led by the HCPC, Xenia Horne has shared some thoughts about how CPD has shaped her journey.
A few years ago, through my connections with Sound Sense ( a wonderful community of musicians and researchers), I was involved with some research led by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation. The focus was to explore how artists and creatives involved in participatory practice were accessing CPD.
At that time I was pretty unaware of what CPD actually meant, and more importantly, how varied and flexible experiences of developing professional practice can be. Many of my peers did not know about CPD at all, and when we did have conversations about the opportunities for networking, learning new skills, and consolidating understanding of new approaches, we all got very excited! Back then, I had been working for many years as a musician and facilitator in community settings, bringing my love of music and drama into practical projects. I was becoming increasingly curious about different ways of engaging creatively with people of all ages and from diverse backgrounds, and interested in the dynamics of both interpersonal relationships and communication. As lockdown landed I had plenty of time to reflect further which gave me the impetus to enrol at University of Roehampton as a very mature student on the Masters in music therapy. I loved being a student again although being online was odd given the intensely human aspects of the discipline. Following a brief hiatus due to caring responsibilities I withdrew and regathered my courage to apply to ARU where the course was in person and full time over two years. It was incredible to experience learning with a supportive and international cohort of colleagues,
Increasingly, I have pushed myself out of my comfort zone – going to networking events, conferences, and workshops in all kinds of settings, across sectors too. In 2023, I co-delivered a workshop about an early years project at a conference in Barcelona. I was lucky to be supported by BERA and Cambridge University, so all the costs were covered. Through attending the three-day event, I learned so much about therapeutic approaches in other countries and made new friends too.
Fast forward to 2025, as a freshly minted Music Therapist, I have been steadily developing networks of peers, and organisations aligned with Music Therapy, creative practice, and research into loneliness and isolation. Scrolling through social media ( Instagram, X, LinkedIn) I look out for interesting events and join mailing lists to keep up to date with what is on offer. I have found brilliant workshops and training opportunities through the Social Prescribing network too. The Cultural Alliance for Arts and Wellbeing, Singing for Health, Singing Mamas, and Britten Pears Collaborative Music Practice for Health are just some of new contacts I have made in the past twelve months.
As a performing musician alongside my Music Therapy practice, I have been carving out time to write new music, which also contributes to my CPD as it is a focus on my creative practice. The new connections and relationships which have been made possible through my quest for experiences which are affordable and accessible have made a significant difference to my personal wellbeing and sense of purpose.
The Musicians Union has also provided me with invaluable resources and guidance. Students and even part-time students can now access a special reduced rate, and non-students can join for £1! Joining a union which best supports your working life is something I highly recommend, not just in terms of employment rights. The unions provide excellent CPD opportunities and are also another community to connect with.
It can be daunting when you are just starting out. I have still to familiarize myself with the correct way of reporting my CPD activities using the BAMT template. For me, seeking out opportunities for continuing professional development is an essential part of nourishing different aspects of my practice. Taking time to go and see an exhibition or hear a talk can spark new ideas, providing a catalyst for new approaches to clinical practice. CPD is what we make it, and it can lead us on fascinating adventures.