Event will highlight music’s role in stroke recovery
ARU music therapy expert to lead free workshop at Chelmsford Science Festival
Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) is hosting a free, interactive event exploring how music can support stroke rehabilitation.
Taking place on Monday, 27 October (1.30pm–3pm) at ARU’s Chelmsford campus, the workshop is part of the 2025 Chelmsford Science Festival, which is organised by ARU.
Led by Dr Alex Street of ARU’s Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research, the event will feature live demonstrations of instruments – including touchscreen-based devices – and explain how artificial intelligence is now being used to help with rehabilitation.
Attendees will have the opportunity to try out the equipment and learn how music therapy is being integrated into clinical practice.
Dr Street led the world’s first large-scale investigation into the feasibility of delivering music therapy on an NHS stroke and rehabilitation unit.
His research involved 177 patients, who took part in 675 sessions over a two-year period, and it was found to have a positive effect on their neurorehabilitation.
As well as playing physical instruments such as keyboards, drums and hand-held percussion, iPads featuring touchscreen instruments were used during the trial to help the patients with hand rehabilitation, through improving finger dexterity and cognitive training.
Dr Street has also led the first regular music therapy sessions providing arm and hand rehabilitation in the homes of stroke survivors. Following 15 home-based sessions over three weeks, the participants showed improvements in arm and hand function, in addition to EEG brain data indicating improved attention and response timing.
“Our research has found that music therapy offers a powerful, engaging way to support stroke recovery.
“Repetition is vital in neurorehabilitation, and playing instruments provides that repetition in a way that feels less clinical and more enjoyable. The instant feedback, through the sounds they create, helps motivate the patients and improve their mood. I’m excited to share our latest findings and demonstrate how technology and music can work together to transform rehabilitation.”
Dr Alex Street, Senior Research Fellow at ARU’s Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy ResearchThe free event takes place on Monday, 27 October at 1.30pm and places can be booked here Music, Movement & Recovery: Using Instruments to Rehabilitate After Stroke - ARU
The event is one of 30 events at this year’s Chelmsford Science Festival, which runs until 28 October. The theme of this year’s festival is “Our AI World – Power and Perils”.