Youngsters are being encouraged to communicate with music therapy

The sessions, which give child patients at John Radcliffe Hospital another way of expressing themselves, are funded by Berkshire-based Rosie's Rainbow Fund.

Rosie Mayling was diagnosed with a rare illness affecting blood vessels.

Before she died in 2003, she had said she wanted to put on shows to raise money for ill children at the hospital.

'Amazing little singer'

Born into a theatrical family, young Rosie appeared on television and in numerous musicals and films, before being struck down with vasculitis.

It was while she was being treated at the John Radcliffe that she came up with the idea of fundraising once she had recovered from her illness.

But six days after being discharged at the end of April last year, the talented youngster suffered a fatal pulmonary haemorrhage and died on 14 May.

Following Rosie's death, her parents Carolyn and David, and her sister Ellie, set up her fund.

Mummy, when I'm better I want to raise money for the new hospital Rosie Mayling

Mrs Mayling said: "When Rosie was actually in hospital she said, 'Mummy, when I'm better I want to raise money for the new hospital'.

"We said, 'What do you want to do?', and she said, 'Put on shows, of course,' because Rosie was very talented.

"She was a budding little actress and amazing little singer.

"Sadly, it wasn't possible for her to do it herself, so we just decided to were doing to do it in her memory."

Music therapist Ceridwen Reesholds sessions which include instrumental and vocal improvisation, song composing and singing favourite nursery rhymes at the hospital once a week.

She said: " You don't have to be able to play the piano to make music."