Music

Music Performance and Music Therapy

Music sessions are between 60 and 90 minutes long. They are split between music performance (sing-a-long, singing and instrumental accompaniment) and music therapy. Our music practitioners vary in their styles and performance, ranging from traditional folk songs to jazz and more modern popular music.

Singing With Sandy follows a siimilar format to our community SingAbout sessions, and aims to boost memory, breathing and a sense of wellbeing in participants. Sandy encourages group participation while encouraging participants to join in with hand movements and chair-based movement with the music. Percussion instruments are also used so participants can beat the rhythm of the music.

Harp sessions help to reduce anxiety and stress. Our practitioner uses a small harp which sits on the lap, enabling participants to strum and feel the strings if they wish to. Our harp practitioner is happy to perform for the entire session if participants wish to listen to harp music, evoking pleasurable memories which are then discussed within the group. Or she can offer clients the opportunity to play the harp (though it's better to have a smaller group to facilitate this). One-to-one 30-minute sessions can also be arranged, giving the participant the full attention of the practitioner.

Music performance is ideal for regular sessions to liven up the day or if there is a special occasion such as a birthday party. Our practitioners are experienced enough to cater for all tastes in music.

Soundbeam

Soundbeam is a little box which emits an ultrasonic beam. When this beam is broken a signal is produced which is channeled through a midi-system to give an almost limitless variety of sounds ranging from the familiar piano, electric guitar and percussion instruments, to the noise of the motor racing circuit, to more ambient, atmospheric sounds which enable the imagination to wander. The length of the beam can be adjusted so, for example, dancers can trigger sounds from their movements, or severely disabled individuals can activate the beam by the movement of a single finger or the blinking of an eyelid.