Emotions Bingo

One of the things I love most about music therapy is how naturally music brings emotions to the surface. A song can make us feel joyful, settled, reflective, or even bring up a sense of sadness we didn’t realise was there. That’s why I often look for ways to help people notice, name, and share those feelings in a safe and creative space.

This was why I created our new Emotions Bingo resource. It’s a fun way to explore emotions through music, while also giving space for some really meaningful conversations.

There are two different types of bingo boards:

• Picture boards, which are great for younger clients or people who respond more to visual cues. These can make it easier to recognise emotions through faces and images.

• Word boards, which I find work really well with older children, teens, and adults. They encourage players to expand the words they use when talking about feelings.

Here’s how I usually use this resource in sessions:

• We start by scanning the QR code and choosing a playlist.

• I press play, and together we listen carefully to each song.

• I’ll ask questions like: What do you think this music is expressing? How does it make you feel?

• If the emotion the person feels or identifies is on their bingo card, they mark that square

• The first person to complete a row, column or diagonal calls out “bingo!”

I love how this resource can open the doors to emotional identification, expression and regulation. For some, it’s often the start of learning to connect music with emotions in themselves. With others, I’ve seen it create moments of reflection and sharing that might not happen otherwise. Sometimes the conversations that follow are just as powerful as the game itself.

For me, Emotions Bingo isn’t just about winning, it’s about creating a safe and playful way to connect with feelings, and using music as the bridge.