THE POWER OF A SONG
Hover on each box and discover the effects of music therapy we’ve observed in our sessions!
HEALING HARMONIES IN ACTION
Arousal and attention
(“eyes light up”)
Increase in arousal and sustained attention: stronger stimulus orientation, eye contact, and engagement cues.
Autobiographical memory recall
Facilitation of autobiographical memory retrieval and reminiscence: names, places, and narratives linked to personal events emerge.
Social synchrony and bonding
Group activities increase interpersonal synchrony, co-regulation, and social bonding: more exchanges, reciprocity, and a sense of belonging.
Emotion
regulation and reduced agitation
Improved emotion regulation with reductions in agitation and anxiety; stronger effect with familiar songs and steady tempo (entrainment).
Language: facilitation of verbal production
Singing supports verbal output and fluency (also via melodic automatisms): emergence of words, short phrases, and completion of lines/verses.
Agency and personal identity
When someone chooses a song or leads a rhythm, agency increases and personal identity is reinforced (active role, perceived self-efficacy).
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SEEN FROM A
DIFFERENT LENS
Mrs. Nicholson, Head of Volunteering at our school, has accompanied us to the care home each week, observing the sessions firsthand. She kindly agreed to share her own perspective on the project, which I’m pleased to present below.
It has been my pleasure to accompany 4 students to Compton House Care Home each week for a music project this term. Other than connecting Irene via email with the activities co-ordinator, Irene has organised the dates of the visits & with her fellow students, the content of each session.
From the very first week, the students have looked at ease when chatting to the residents. They have ensured everyone has been spoken to, including those who are non-verbal, showing compassion & care. It has been wonderful to watch them grow in confidence, build good relationships with the residents & flourish in their musical performances.
The music has been varied, drawing on their individual talents & with their audience in mind. Bob, who is non-verbal, sits beside his wife & moves his head to follow the sound, watching with eyes bright as the students perform. Barbara taps her foot & sings along to the songs that she recalls from her younger days. Michael recalls the music he has enjoyed in his life & the musical talents of his children. The staff cannot help but poke their heads around the door to witness the enjoyment on the residents faces.
This for me, is what a partnership should look like, mutually beneficial. For the residents, they have enjoyed the company & entertainment of the students & for the students, an opportunity to share their talents, learn about the residents lives & grow in confidence as they step outside of their comfort zone.
~ Mrs. Nicholson,
Head of Volunteering
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We sold our music-themed goods at a music event at school
These are some of the biscuits we decorated... the most delicious notes you will ever see!
Lots of delicious sweets were sold
We sold our music-themed goods at a music event at school
MELODIES
OF CHOCOLATE
As our concluding touch to our volunteering time at the Compton Care Home, we set up a music-themed bake sale. We baked and decorated biscuits and cupcakes inspired by music, and sold them during a school music event.
Thanks to the support we received, we raised over £ 130. With this, we bought a record player and two vinyls for the care home: one featuring Ella Fitzgerald and the other Vera Lynn. With this small and simple act, we wanted to gift something special to the care home, to remind them of the afternoons spent with us, as a symbol that there will always be someone taking care and thinking of them.
We purposely chose two vinyls that contain some of the songs we’ve performed during our sessions, creating a special connection between our fundraising and the moments we shared with residents.
A MUSICAL FUNDRAISER
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