OUR SESSIONS
Practicing in the Music School before one of our sessions
Healing Harmonies sessions are designed as participatory musical encounters, not simple concerts.
We alternate listening and performance with guided activities that invite residents to sing, remember, choose, play, and share.
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Our Healing Harmonies gang with Hazel, wellbeing coordinator at Compton House
Ariel and I playing "Dream A Little Dream of Me", with me at the piano and Ariel singing
We learned that relationships grow from simple things: a light, welcoming atmosphere where even a small gesture, from a hummed chorus, or a clap, to a laugh, becomes connection.
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Chatting to the residents at Compton House while they enjoy their afternoon tea
BRINGING MUSIC TO LIFE
TO SING. TO SHARE. TO SMILE.
What we offer is not only a series of activities: we try to make it a shared experience shaped by music. Through familiar songs and gentle interactions, we create moments that bring comfort, joy, and a sense of belonging.
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THROUGH ARIEL's EYES
Ariel is a volunteer at Healing Harmonies. She is a very good singer and always brings a smile and kind touch to our sessions! Here, she shares a brief glimpse into her experience with the project.
Our music therapy project at Compton House has become a highlight that sits warmly outside our usual school routine. Meeting the residents every Thursday afternoon, we would play and sing pieces that the residents would know from their younger years, such as Elvis Presley’s Can’t Help Falling in Love, Vera Lynn’s A Nightingale Sang in Berkely Square, and even some jazzy tunes like Misty and Dream a Little Dream of Me.
It has been a joy to put our knowledge about music therapy to action and see how the residents would sing along with us, how some residents who appear to be sleeping would open their eyes when they were listening to our performances.
Many residents recalled concerts they had attended years ago and a large proportion of them had sung in choirs when they were younger. Piano melodies on classical pieces has also been a well-loved choice, as it is able to set the atmosphere a soothing and calming quality.
Alternatively, we would also bring small percussive instruments such as the shakers and tambourines to encourage more engaging participation; the residents loved the simple joy of holding an instrument and feeling the rhythm tangible in their hands, becoming part of the music rather than just listeners.
Ariel and I performing Always Remember Us This Way by Lady Gaga. The residents like to be surprised with some more modern tunes!
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