Ep 53 Francis Myerscough

Music Therapy Conversations

Episode 53 features Francis Myerscough, who was part of the panel discussion on diversity chaired by Wendy Magee at the 2021 BAMT conference. Francis Myerscough qualified as a music therapist from the University of South Wales in 2018. They work in a number of different settings, with a background in adoption support and more recently in a local children’s services harmful sexual behaviour team. Other roles have included supporting LGBTQ+ young people at a local youth club, and as founder of and music therapist at Phoenix Song Project – a therapy organisation co-directed with and offering therapy for other members of trans and non-binary communities.

There is some discussion here about language, and Francis also discusses their clinical practice, musical training and upbringing, shifts in musical identity, including instrument choice, and the importance of the voice in their therapy work.

Resources

Practice Your Pronouns:

https://www.patreon.com/PracticeYourPronouns

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjZ0Kl2fL5gC4BkYd0oQKbQ/

Jessica Kingsley list:

https://uk.jkp.com/collections/gender-diversity-gender-diversity-pid-906

Ruth Pearce book

https://ruthpearce.net/books/understanding-trans-health/

GIRES

https://www.gires.org.uk/

Gendered Intelligence (this is one example of an organisation who offer training for talking therapies, but broader resources also available that might be relevant for music therapists too)

https://genderedintelligence.co.uk/

Mermaids

https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/

BISH examples - https://www.bishuk.com/about-you/whats-your-gender/

https://www.bishuk.com/parents/teach-yourself-sex-ed-gender-you-and-culture/ (includes a chocolate bar gender map!)

TransActual https://www.transactual.org.uk/

TransActual UK was founded by a group of British trans people in 2017 as a response to increasing press hostility, transphobia and misinformation. They are run by the trans community, with the trans community, for the trans community.

In June 2020 they expanded their scope and remit so that they may:

• share reliable information about trans people’s lives and about trans rights in the UK, as well as dispelling common myths
• amplify the voices of trans people so that the wider world may hear the experiences of a wide range of trans men, trans women and non-binary people
• educate people about trans people's lives and the issues we face
• advocate for trans people
• empower trans people to make bring about change in their lives and in the community

They are working to improve:

1. Trans people’s experiences of healthcare.⁠
2. Legal recognition & protections for trans people.
3. Media representation of trans people and an end to press transphobia.⁠ ⁠

University of Wisconsiun, Milwaukee LGBTQ+ Resource centre: https://uwm.edu/lgbtrc

Includes page about gender pronouns: https://uwm.edu/lgbtrc/support/gender-pronouns/

CliniQ - https://cliniq.org.uk

The film KIKI (Dir: Sara Jordenö, 2017) provides an update from the iconic 1990 documentary Paris is Burning. Both centre around ballroom culture and vogueing. Francis recommends both as intros to this rich area of history and creative practice, spearheaded by queer people of colour.

Luke's blog post:

http://jazztoad.blogspot.com/2018/11/curiouser-and-curiouser.html

Francis' response:

https://facethemusicandtrans.wordpress.com/2018/12/17/working-with-voice-and-trans-clients-musings-in-response-to-luke-annesleys-curiouser-and-curiouser/