South Devon family shares how Rowcroft music therapy helped them through most challenging times

A South Devon family is sharing how Rowcroft’s music therapy service brought creativity, connection and uplifting moments during a deeply challenging time.

Richard Goss, 66, a mechanical design engineer from Totnes, was living with a brain tumour and receiving palliative care from the hospice. 

He had been attending music therapy sessions at Rowcroft since December 2025 with hospice Music Therapist David Holmes. 

The sessions became a meaningful shared experience for Richard and his wife Lesley and son Oliver, who often joined. 

Richard Goss playing a tongue drum in a music therapy session at Rowcroft Hospice

While Richard sadly died on March 23, his family have chosen Music Therapy Week (from April 10 to 15) to share his story in a tribute to him, and to raise awareness of the comfort and connection that music therapy can bring.

During his final weeks, Richard had been reflecting on his experience of Rowcroft’s care and said: “I was really pleased to hear that music therapy is available at Rowcroft. One of the Rowcroft team had suggested it might be helpful, given that music has been a big part of my life.”

Rowcroft’s music therapy service works alongside the hospice’s multidisciplinary team to support patients living with life-limiting illnesses, and their families, across 300 square miles of South Devon. Through creative musical expression, music therapy helps people to connect with emotions, relieve stress and create meaningful experiences together. 

“My wife and one of our sons attend with me as I need some help, and they join in so we all enjoy our musical creative time together,” said Richard. “It is time away from the other health things I am working through. And we look forward to seeing what we can come up with. Each session is guided by Rowcroft’s Music Therapist David who is very good at getting us warmed up and helping to choose instruments to start us off.”

The music therapy room - a small and enchanting wooden hut in the hospice grounds - is kitted out with a variety of instruments from all around the world. There are percussion instruments, metal tongue drums, beautifully-sounding wooden bowls that are hand-made in Buckfastleigh, as well as small original African and Asian shakers, gongs, drums, metal cymbals and much more. 

“During the sessions, David sometimes suggests that we visualise a scene – for example, a walk through a jungle,” explained Richard. “He can then accompany us on various instruments, and we develop a loose piece of music as we go. The tempo and dynamics change as we go along.”

The sessions provided something positive to anticipate and reflect on together as a family, creating lasting memories.

“We have lovely discussions afterwards about what we enjoyed, and my son has created some short recordings that we can listen back to and share with other family members,” said Richard. “I enjoy taking part; it’s good fun, and it’s a lovely way to spend time with some of the family. It’s been emotional for me, but in a very positive way.”

Richard’s son Oliver, a trained musician who attended the sessions with his parents, said the experience created special moments and memories:

“It was fantastic to continue having new experiences together, and for us as a family to have something to look forward to. I can’t think of any other situation where you have the opportunity to play a guitar, a harp, a rain stick, and a full drum kit in one place.”

The Goss family’s experience highlights how music therapy can be deeply personal, creative, emotionally supportive, and can help people to connect with their own feelings and with other people.

“The aim of music therapy is to create a musical conversation with people,” said David Holmes. “Through sound and rhythm, people can express feelings that are often difficult to put into words. Music gives them another voice – a way to be heard and to connect with others.

“It can also bring a real sense of calm. When people become immersed in the music, they enter a mindful space where worries can fade for a while and they’re free to simply experience the moment.”

Music therapy is just one of the many aspects of Rowcroft’s holistic care that supports patients and their families both emotionally, physically and spiritually. As a charity, the hospice relies on the generosity of the local community to fund its services, as only 24 per cent of Rowcroft’s funding is derived from the NHS. Through fundraising, donations, and support from individuals, groups, and businesses across South Devon, Rowcroft can continue providing its vital care and bringing comfort and connection to patients and their families when they need it most.