Our stories
People are at the heart of what we do. Discover some of our stories from across the UK to find out more about how people in health and care are benefitting from live music experiences.
Manchester Sensory Support Service works with families of children with visual and hearing needs in Manchester from birth until they leave school. Music in Hospitals & Care musicians visit the babies and toddlers group in the community room at Asda Eastlands around once a month.
Leah has been coming to the sessions with her 17 month old son, Amari, for over a year.
Deaf and hearing impaired children being exposed to music, especially in this small group, is very important. They can interact with and touch the instruments to feel the vibrations.
Alexander is two years old and lives at home with his parents and two older brothers. They go to Kites Corner in Gloucester for respite care and daytime support. We recently joined them there for a family music day.
Alexander loved doing the actions along with the nursery rhymes so I know he thoroughly enjoyed it – his smile proved it too.
Keshia looks after her four children, two of which have additional needs. She started coming to Lifted Carers Centre in Wythenshawe just a few weeks ago and has been back almost every day since. One of the first activities she took part in with the group was a Music in Hospitals & Care live music experience.
It uplifted my emotions and put a smile on my face.
Tommy is one of almost 40 residents living at The Broughtons in Salford. Like all care homes, The Broughtons had an incredibly tough time throughout multiple lockdowns, and residents missed the interaction of Music in Hospitals & Care musicians such as A4 Brass Quartet, who have returned to the home after 18 months without live music in person.
The music brought back memories because I used to go to parks with my dad to watch brass bands. He used to play when he was in the army.
“It’s quiet when you’ve got dementia,” says Mike Brookes, who has been living with vascular dementia for 10 years. In lockdown, life has been particularly isolating for Mike, who is a RAF veteran, and his wife Liz.
“It’s been devastating, lonely and terrifying” says Liz, who lives with Mike in Rochdale. “Normally, we are very busy with lots of activities but they just stopped dead in the pandemic. The impact on Mike was really negative. And it was hard for him to engage with things online.
“We’ve really missed live music, which transformed Mike.”
“Live music should be on prescription for people living with dementia”
Looking across at his wife Marilyn, Chris Mercer sees her smile. They’re sharing a Music in Hospitals & Care live music experience at Holy Cross Hospital in Surrey, where Marilyn lives at the moment, and Chris used to visit every single day.
“Marilyn had an accident which left her with brain damage and she has relatively low awareness and is often asleep,” says Chris. “But when there’s good live music going on, she reacts to it. She is more awake and it makes a big difference to her wellbeing.”
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