As the country headed into another lockdown, Raukatauri once again considered the best ways to support our whānau, clients and Outreach partners during this time. In 2020, during the first lockdown, we launched QuaranTunes, a private Facebook group for our clients which provided new interactive music-making videos from the Raukatauri music therapists every day. Later renamed Raukatauri Tunes, we recognised the support and structure that this group provided during such a difficult time, and renewed the service during the school holidays. Now in 2021, along with Zoom music therapy sessions and online check ins with our families and clients, we have been running Raukatauri Tunes once more, posting multiple videos every day, a mixture of new, old, and Live content.
We had a very special guest pop up in one of our Raukatauri Tunes videos! 8-year-old Nate was a superstar, helping out with some awesome dance moves and singing with his music therapist, Jen.
A typical Raukatauri Tunes day starts with some mid-morning music - either a welcoming Mōrena session or a round of lively songs to get everyone reinvigorated after screen time for school lessons - and finishes with an evening “Happy Hour” to provide daily structure, while also featuring afternoon tunes musical videos each day. These videos, which are distinct from goal-oriented music therapy sessions, feature movement activities, singalongs, drumming, instrument-making tutorials, relaxation, and special content like ‘Jazz in the Jungle’, ‘Traveling the World’, and even exploring one music therapist’s family farm to sing to all the animals.
Xiu serenades us with a collection of beautiful songs on a Tuesday evening.
Over this lockdown, the Facebook group has grown from 250 to 336 members, with daily interactions and feedback. Our most popular videos have been an introduction to the Pipa, a traditional Chinese instrument, by Xiu, along with a beautiful (socially distanced) walk up Owairaka while singing and playing the guitar by Alex. We had an amazing special guest appearance by Miona’s daughter who danced along to her mum’s playing, everyone absolutely loved this video, including all of the Raukatauri team!
Our most exciting moment during this series of Raukatauri Tunes was the guest Happy Hour video filmed just for RaukitauriTunes by NZ legend, singer/songwriter, Anika Moa. Anika was so generous with her time and her energy to record this video for our families. Anika performed some of her classic children’s songs off her te reo Māori album series, Songs for Bubbas, including “Oma Rāpeti” and “Colours Are Beautiful”. Our Raukatauri Tunes members were thrilled by Anika’s video and we were so happy to have her join Raukatauri Tunes.
Anika Moa sings Oma Rāpeti during her special guest Raukatauri Tunes ‘Happy Hour’ video.
We are continuing to run Raukatauri Tunes while the lockdown lasts, and sharing music and lightness throughout our clients’ days