Jenny Barrett-Freeman
Founder 

Jenny is a classically-trained cellist and completed her BA (Hons) degree in Music at Leeds University in 2005. 

She studied Music Therapy at Queen Margaret University culminating in an MSc (Nordoff-Robbins) in 2010. After graduation, she set up Music Therapy services for the City of Edinburgh Council, Bupa and private clients, working with people with learning difficulties, brain injuries, autism and dementia and facilitating singing groups in care homes and day centres.

In 2016 she incorporated Forth Music Therapy Service Ltd in order to develop new Music Therapy projects as well as to bring together therapists to work collaboratively and incorporate different approaches. Aiming to create more opportunities she has set up projects for Care UK and Capability Scotland.

Through Forth Music Therapy, Jenny aims to further develop its services, continuing to provide professional Music Therapy and music services to improve the well-being and quality of life for those who are hardest to reach and who need it most.

Meg Dowling
Music therapist

Meg completed the BA (Hons) degree in Jazz Studies at Leeds College of Music in 2004, after which she trained to become a Music Teacher and achieved a PGCE and Qualified Teacher Status. She has worked in England, Scotland and Southern Africa, and has taught in international schools, mainstream schools and schools for children and young people with additional support needs.
 
In 2017, Meg graduated with Distinction from the MSc Music Therapy course at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh. She is an HCPC registered Music Therapist, a member of the British Association for Music Therapy and the Chair of the Scottish Music Therapy Trust. She works in a variety of settings and has experience of working with adolescents with mental health issues, adults with acquired brain injury, physical disabilities and complex needs, and older adults living with dementia. She has also established a Music Therapy service in a school for children and young people with profound and multiple learning difficulties and complex additional support needs.
 
Meg’s main instrument is the saxophone but she also loves to sing and play the piano, the guitar and a variety of percussion instruments.

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Jeanne Laidlaw
Music Therapist

Esther Chuang
​Music Therapist

Jeanne graduated from the BA Popular Music course at Edinburgh Napier University in 2010 and then worked as an instrumental music instructor, music tutor and musician.

She is a recently qualified music therapist, having graduated from the MSc Music Therapy course at Queen Margaret University in 2018. She is Treasurer of the Scottish Music Therapy Trust.

Jeanne has clinical experience of working with adults with acquired brain injury, adults with physical and learning disabilities, older adults with dementia and health care needs, and adolescents with social, emotional and behavioural needs. Jeanne also has clinical experience of working with children with autism and additional support needs in educational and community settings during her work at ELM Music Therapy. 

Her main instrument is drum kit and she enjoys playing a variety of other instruments including guitar, piano and singing.

Esther completed her BMus (Hons) degree in Music in 2015 and graduated with an MA in Ethnomusicology in 2016 at Cardiff University. She is a classically-trained musician and her main instruments are piano and voice. Esther has also enjoyed playing a range of instruments during her studies and training, including clarinet, guitar, harmonica, organ, drum kit and other percussions. Before she moved to Edinburgh, she worked as a private voice and piano teacher with children.

Having graduated from Queen Margaret University in 2019 with an MSc in Music Therapy, Esther is now an HCPC registered Music Therapist and a member of British Association of Music Therapy. She also completed her training with Chroma in 2019 and successfully gained the certificate to practice as a Neurological Music Therapist.

Esther has clinical experience of working with adolescents with complex social, emotional and behavioural needs. This includes adolescents with autism, learning disabilities, visual and hearing impairments, and mild brain injuries. She also has experience working with the elderly with advanced dementia and physical disabilities.