Arts and Health

Live Music Now: Music In Care

Prescribe arts partner Live Music Now works alongside those with reduced access to live music, in care homes, schools, hospitals, hospices and community settings around the UK. The Live Music Now: Music In Care programme in residential home ApplebyHouse CareUK has had a deep, positive impact on the resident community. Oboist Will Ball and clarinettist Craig McLaren led an 11-week Live Music in Care initiative at Appleby House in 2022, which was funded by the City Bridge Trust and Rayne Foundation.

The Live Music Now: Music In Care musicians worked with staff at the residential home to establish goals and plan participation, before leading weekly interactive music workshops with the residents. Throughout the programme, staff were encouraged and supported to take an active role in the delivery of these workshops, and were supported with spaces for reflection and planning. A major focus of this programme was giving the team at Appleby House the skills and confidence, such as warming up and harmonising, to deliver their own music sessions.

““We have seen many impacts on residents including increased self-confidence, new friendships, improved eating and drinking, laughter and improved speech.””

Shona Bradbury, Manager, Appleby House Care UK

For all those participating in the Live Music Now: Music In Care programme, there has been a noted increased importance, regularity and effectiveness of live music activities at Appleby House. The sessions have had a noticeable positive effect on the residents living with dementia – from boosted morale to interactions with families, staff members and other residents. A couple of residents even evolved from being unhappy about relocating to a care home to taking a lead in encouraging other residents to participate in the activities.

Live Music Now trains musicians in all regions in England, Wales and Northern Ireland who can deliver the Live Music Now: Music In Care residencies with people living and working in care homes. To read more about the success at Appleby House, click here: Live Music in Care

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