Celebrating our musicians on International Women’s Day

This International Women’s Day, we are celebrating the exceptional women sharing the healing power of live music with people across the UK who may not otherwise get to experience it.

Music in Hospitals & Care musician Sathari Kam visits neonatal units, dementia wards and mental health services in the South of England. She explains: “For the babies, the music has to be gentle – low, soothing tones rather than anything too loud or energetic. Lately, I’ve been favouring the guitar over the banjo because it has one more string and a softer tone. You can make it sound almost like a harp by plucking it a certain way, and the babies seem to like that. Ultimately, I adapt to whatever suits the occasion, the family, and most importantly, the baby.

“In dementia units, for instance, I use upbeat songs to lift the mood. People can start out quite low, so I sing familiar, fast-paced songs to encourage participation. I also hand out instruments so they can join in.”

Musicians like Sathari bring warmth and energy to care environments, transforming them into spaces filled with life and connection. Sathari adds: “Live music transforms care environments into spaces filled with warmth. It helps people feel relaxed and can relieve frustration, stress and isolation. It also encourages movement, enhances mood and creates a sense of connection between patients, families and healthcare professionals.”

Elkie Jeffery, Music in Hospitals & Care singer and ukulelist, highlights the importance of selecting the right music to engage audiences and create meaningful experiences: “I think a good bit of advice is choosing the right material for the people you’re playing to. Working on your repertoire and making sure that you’ve got a good range of eras, decades and styles.”

She also encourages budding musicians to expand their skill sets: “I would say to other women that are aspiring singers to learn an instrument. It’s just so great to be completely independent and accompany yourself – it really opens the door to this kind of work. It just means you can do more with your career in general if you’ve got a double attack.”

We appreciate the remarkable women who dedicate their musical talents to making a difference to the lives of patients, families, healthcare professionals, residents and carers.