Kia Ora and welcome.

Emma Makes Music (EMM) is a music therapy business

founded in 2022 by Emma Matthews, NZRMTh.

With clinical experience since 2009 and based in the Nelson/Tasman region, EMM delivers music therapy and music therapy workshops in specialist education settings across Aotearoa. Through making music therapy available, EMM is supporting tamariki, whānau, and educators through accessible and meaningful music-based practice.

The goal is to make music therapy resources and sessions visible and widely available for our community, educators, and specialists. Emma opened The Nest in February 2026 and has made it her mission to provide responsive Consultation and Outreach opportunities across Te Tau Ihu.

Emma is an experienced senior music therapist and specialist education practitioner. With years of running her own business, working with or coordinating multidisciplinary teams, and consulting for outside agencies - she loves working in a client focused way, incorporating therapeutic goals into a fun and inclusive environment - as well as working alongside other therapists.

She is a prolific songwriter, creating bespoke resources for the organisations she works with, and is currently busy releasing new music on streaming services and therapeutic packages on Bandcamp.

Emma is the Top of the South representative for Music Therapy New Zealand, and holds qualifications in music performance, music therapy and early childhood teaching. She is currently completing her course requirements for Neurologic Music Therapy®️ is a member of the World Federation for Neurorehabilitation. Emma has recently been elected as a and is a board member of Music Therapy New Zealand.

When Emma isn’t making music she is wrangling a busy household, putting more pink dye in her hair, getting out in nature, or making the garden more sustainable - alongside Rory - official snory mascot of The Nest.