May Creative Arts

We’re excited to welcome Bri to the May Creative Arts team! 🎶

Bri will be facilitating our group at GiGi's Playhouse Buffalo, supporting children with Down syndrome through music and creative expression.

Brianna (Bri) Nilsen is a board-certified music therapist, educator, and mental health therapist with degrees in Music Education, Music Therapy, and Social Work. She uses music and the creative arts to support emotional expression, communication, and overall wellbeing across the lifespan.

Bri has experience working with diverse populations, including individuals with developmental disabilities, mental health needs, and those navigating serious illness. Her holistic, trauma-informed approach integrates music therapy with mindfulness, body-based awareness, and evidence-based practices such as CBT, DBT, and ACT.

Bri is passionate about helping individuals connect, express themselves, and access the healing power of music. We’re so happy to have her on the team! 💛

For children with medical needs, music is so much more than sound — it’s comfort, communication, and connection. 💫

Through music therapy, kids can express feelings they don’t yet have words for, reduce anxiety during medical treatments, build motor and cognitive skills, and simply experience joy in the moment.

A song can calm a racing heart. A rhythm can support movement and coordination. A melody can make a hospital room feel a little more like home.

Music meets children where they are — and helps them heal, grow, and feel seen. 💙

🎶 MAJOR NEWS from May Creative Arts! 🎶
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of music therapy services at BryLin Hospital — a groundbreaking step for Buffalo and Western New York, where access to in-hospital music therapy has been nearly nonexistent.

For a city that has long needed more creative, trauma-informed care, this is a milestone. Our board-certified music therapists are now partnering with medical teams to bring patients the healing power of music — helping reduce stress, process emotions, and reconnect with themselves in times of crisis.

This isn’t just a program — it’s a shift in what care can look like in Buffalo. It’s the first of its kind here, and we’re just getting started. 💙

Deep thanks to BryLin Hospital for recognizing that true healing includes the arts.

🎶💙 March was both Music Therapy Month & Social Work Month—a time to celebrate two powerful professions dedicated to healing and support!

🎵 Music Therapy uses evidence-based music interventions to improve cognitive, emotional, and physical health. Certified Music Therapists (MT-BCs) work in hospitals, schools, mental health centers, and more, helping people with everything from anxiety to PTSD.

💙 Social Work is one of the fastest-growing professions, with over 700,000 social workers in the U.S. alone. These advocates support mental health, child welfare, and social justice, providing critical care in hospitals, schools, communities, and more.

And we couldn’t be prouder of our incredible team! Huge shoutout to our amazing music therapists Colleen, Jacob, Megan, and Caroline for bringing the power of music to those who need it most. And to Katie, our phenomenal social worker, whose compassion and dedication change lives every day.

We are beyond grateful for your work and the impact you make! 🎶❤️

🌟 Inspiring Change at WNY's "Spread the Word for Inclusion" Event! 🌟

This month, owner of May Creative Arts had the honor of attending the WNY Spread the Word for Inclusion event, a powerful initiative that highlights the importance of creating an inclusive world for all. 💙

It's so important for us to understand that every word we use matters, especially when it comes to fostering an environment of respect and kindness. Unfortunately, the use of the R-word is on the rise, and it's time we put an end to it. The R-word perpetuates stigma and discrimination, and it's up to all of us to make sure we're spreading respect instead of harmful language.

Join the movement! 🌍 Let's help raise awareness and show that words have power. Be part of the solution by taking the pledge to stop using the R-word and spread inclusion everywhere we go.

For more info and to take the pledge, visit ➡️ Spread the Word Global

🎶 Join us for a fun and uplifting music group at GiGi's Playhouse Buffalo designed for adults! Whether you're a music lover or just looking to explore your creativity, this group is the perfect opportunity to connect, learn, and have fun with others.

✨ Best part? It’s billable through self-direction!

Don’t miss out – come enjoy the power of music in a supportive, inclusive environment.