Workshops, Training & Conference Speaking
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Experiential Workshops That Bring Compassion, Music and Reflection to Life
Conference organisers
Looking for engaging workshops.
NHS & Healthcare
Reflective practice.
Compassion.
Burnout.
Team wellbeing.
Schools
Music
Connection
Belonging
Emotional regulation
Therapy Organisations
Compassion Focused Therapy
Music Therapy
Reflective practice
The Drumming Workshop
Rhythm, Connection and Play
Experiential drumming and reflective learning
With Biant Singh and Matt Le Mare
Make music together. Find a shared rhythm. Take time to think together about the work we do.
An invitation to step into a drumming circle, explore sound and rhythm, and reflect alongside fellow practitioners. Combining music therapy, compassion and community drumming, Matt and Biant offer a practical workshop designed for professional practitioners.
No musical experience needed. Drums and instruments provided.
What happens in the workshop?
Explore the drums
We begin with an invitation to experiment: discover the sounds, enjoy the energy and get a feel for making music together. There is no performance to prepare, and no requirement to get it right.
Find a shared heartbeat
Biant invites the group into a simple heartbeat rhythm. We listen, play and notice what happens as we try to find a pulse together. The rhythm becomes a starting point for exploring participation, connection and difference.
Pause and reflect
Matt and Biant open up a conversation about the experience. We may consider listening, anticipation, confidence, self-consciousness, choice and belonging. There is space for different responses; no one is expected to feel the same way or share personal experiences.
Connect the experience with practice
Together, we consider what these observations might bring to the work: following a child’s lead, responding through sound, allowing silence and noticing our own impulse to direct or fill a space. Questions and examples from delegates help shape the discussion.
What you can take into your practice
The workshop is designed to help participants:
Notice how pace, volume, repetition and silence influence their own experience of musical play.
Reflect on leading, following and responding within a shared activity.
Consider how choice, sensory preferences and different ways of participating can inform the use of sound in the playroom.
Explore how self-criticism or pressure to perform can affect participation, using compassion-focused ideas as a starting point for reflection.
Identify an idea or question to take into their existing practice and supervision.
This is experiential professional learning within participants’ existing scope of practice. It does not confer a music therapy qualification or additional professional registration.
Meet Matt and Biant
Matt Le Mare
Music therapist, CFT practitioner and clinical supervisor
Matt is an HCPC-registered music therapist with around 20 years’ experience working with children, young people and adults. His work has included extensive practice in schools, supporting autistic children and young people, people with complex disabilities, and those with experiences of trauma and emotional difficulties.
He holds postgraduate diplomas in Music Therapy and Compassion Focused Therapy, alongside a postgraduate qualification in teaching and learning in higher education. A former senior lecturer at the University of Derby, he taught on undergraduate Therapeutic Arts and MA Music Therapy programmes and provides clinical supervision for music therapists.
Matt brings an interest in how we relate to ourselves and one another: the pressure to get things right, the courage to try something unfamiliar, and the experiences that help us feel connected and more fully engaged. In these workshops, he creates space to think with participants about their musical experience and the work they do.
HCPC registration: AS08306
Biant Singh
Registered social worker, mental health practitioner and community drummer
Biant brings more than 30 years of social work experience alongside a lifelong relationship with music. Growing up immersed in Indian classical music, he developed a particular interest in North Indian tabla drumming and rhythm.
He combines his social work experience and musicianship through Rhythm for Life workshops across health, social care, education and community settings. His approach invites people to explore their own creativity, share rhythms and enjoy making music together, with an emphasis on participation and connection.
Biant works as a Mental Health Practitioner with Ashfield Community Mental Health Team. His workshops also draw on the Five Ways to Wellbeing: connect, learn, be active, take notice and give. He brings the drums, practical musical guidance and a welcoming invitation to join in.
Social Work England registration: SW35820
Planning a workshop
A proposed conference format is 90 minutes for up to 15 participants, combining musical exploration and reflective discussion. The same workshop can be repeated for different groups, with timing and delivery agreed with the organiser.
Instruments: We supply the drums and instruments, along with any sound equipment needed.
Experience: No previous drumming or musical experience is required.
Participation: We welcome discussion of access and sound sensitivities beforehand. Participants can choose how to take part, including listening or taking a break.
Space: A suitable room with chairs arranged in a circle, space for instruments and consideration for neighbouring sessions.
Fees: Quoted according to preparation, session length, group size, number of deliveries and travel requirements.
Workshops can also be discussed for staff teams, education, health and social care organisations, and community groups.
Let’s talk about your event
If you are planning a conference, training day or team workshop, we would love to hear what you have in mind. Tell us about your group, the date and location, and what you hope participants will take from the experience.
