Ep.98 The Benefits of Songwriting For Children’s Mental Health With Sophie Garner

Today Alexa is joined by a singer and voice coach who was the first artist to perform at London’s O2 Arena. She has taught music to more than 4,000 children and has worked on ITV’s The Voice Kids. In 2019 she was awarded an MA from the Voice Study Centre where her work focused on the benefits of singing and songwriting on mental health. Author of The Creative Songwriting Journal and If You Can’t Say It Sing It! Sophie Garner is on Singing Teachers Talk. 

KEY MOMENTS

‘It enables people to literally have a voice’ 

‘I love the work. I’d do it even if I wasn’t being paid’ 

‘You’re only a really good teacher if you can teach something in its simplest terms’ 

RELEVANT LINKS & MENTIONS

• Lean Fall Stand by Jon McGregor 
• Mental Health First Aid England: mhfaengland.org
• Teaching Singing to Children and Young Adults by Dr Jenevora Williams 
• The Young Musician’s Guide to Songwriting by Lisa Donovan Lukas
• Songwriting Without Boundaries by Pat Pattison 
• The Theory and Practice of Vocal Psychotherapy by Diane Austin
• Recovery of Your Inner Child by Lucia Capacchione 
• The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

ABOUT THE GUEST

Sophie began her career upon leaving school as an actress, training with The National Youth Theatre of Great Britain where she worked with Matt Lucas (Great British Bake Off and Les Misérables). Deciding her singing was her first love, she set out on a path focused on music. Her professional singing career has seen a great deal of experience. She was the very first artist to play London’s iconic O2 Arena! She has been a vocal coach for ITV’s The Voice Kids, taught music to 4,000+ kids, runs four adult choirs and is a specialist in working with brain injury and dementia through singing on a weekly basis for Headway and various specialist neurology care units. Sophie graduated in 2019 from Voice Study with her Master’s degree (distinction) in her expert area: the benefits of singing and songwriting on well-being and mental health.

Sophie is also a public speaker and mentor for young adults, providing songwriting workshops, teacher training and presentations across the UK.

EPISODE RESOURCES 

Guest Website:

• www.sophiegarner.com
• www.thecreativesongwritingjournal.com

Social Media: 

• Instagram: @sophie.garner

Contact Email:

• [email protected]

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