Organisation Specialism: Music

Musical Connections specifically benefits adults who consider themselves isolated, lonely, vulnerable or marginalised due to personal circumstances or specific needs. 87% of current members are/have been mental health service users with others having long-term health conditions, physical disabilities or sensory impairments affecting their mental health, mental and physical health being intrinsically linked. The project uses music making activities to build confidence, resilience and life skills, improving wellbeing and reducing isolation.

Please contact us if interested and we will send over further info.

Who is it for?
Our courses are run in small group settings by professional artists and musicians, who have lots of experience working with people from all artistic backgrounds. Our courses are for adults 19+. All materials are provided. We prioritise people with health conditions, disabilities and/or unpaid caring responsibilities.

Develop your skills and confidence playing an instrument or singing individually and as part of a group. Establish teamwork and technical skills to collaborate, rehearse, plan and perform covers successfully with other musicians. Gain an understanding of composition to create original music. You’ll listen, experiment and compose, rehearse, play and review as a group in the classroom, supported by individual practice at home. Showcase your work to an invited small audience.

Where and when?
Tuesdays 10.30am – 1.30pm The Oasis Centre, Wisbech, PE13 3NR

Cost
Dependent on income. FREE for those on a low income or means-tested benefits. Please see website for further details: www.creativefenland.org.uk/about-courses

How do I join?
Apply on our website: www.creativefenland.org.uk/courses, email magda@creativefenland.org.uk or phone 07707 972721.

Space For Sound is a free 8-week music course, offering a fun and social space to take part in creative sessions with professional musician Louise Jordan.

Get hands-on playing music together using a variety of instruments and voices, explore songwriting; try active listening, and recording with easy-to-use technology.

Through a wide variety of activities, notice how we use music in our day-to-day lives to destress, energize and support our well-being. Sessions may include short gentle walks to the local park, weather permitting.

Non-musicians and musicians are welcome! We will provide everything you need to take part but invite participants to bring along their own instruments if they wish.

These workshops will take place on Thursday evenings,
6.30-9.00 pm, 8th June – 27th July at St Francis Church and a session at Salisbury Playhouse.

What is it?

The Music Hotline is a free music phone call service for over 50s living in Trafford and Wythenshawe, who are not able to access social or creative activities in person.

The service aims to support connections, self-expression and creativity. Through regular music phone calls with a professional musician, residents can explore their favourite music, sing and write lyrics or poems based on their interests.

The music phone calls are particularly designed for people who are socially isolated, have low mental wellbeing, are housebound or don’t access the internet.

This is not a befriending service, it is an opportunity for individuals who struggle to engage in other services or activities to build confidence, self-expression and explore their creativity.

How does it works?

Once a referral is made through this form, a member of the String of Hearts team will then make contact with the person accessing the service to get to know them, explain how it works, and confirm the date/ time that a musician will phone them.

A String of Hearts musician will then phone the individual at the agreed time. Their phone call will last approximately 30 minutes, taking the form of getting to know each other, chatting about music they like, and singing favourite songs together with the musician playing their instrument.

The individual can join in by listening, singing, or using items around their house to make sounds such as tapping a table! They can also write lyrics based on thoughts and topics that interest them, and the musician can help them make a personal playlist to listen to at home.

At the end of the phone call, the musician will ask brief questions about the individual’s experience, to inform our evaluation. The musician will also ask if they’d like to book a further phone call in. We expect each individual to have up to six phone calls, but this will be subject to availability of the service and level of need.

String of Hearts invites over 50s to get involved with free music-making sessions in Trafford and south Manchester. The sessions involve exploring your favourite music, singing, playing simple instruments and writing songs based on topics that interest the group. Members enjoy having a relaxed, creative time together which focuses on building connections between neighbours and expressing thoughts and ideas. The sessions are led by String of Hearts friendly, professional musicians, and no prior musical experience is required to participate.