Frequently asked questions

It helps people feel relaxed and confident, and can relieve frustration, stress and isolation. Music can also reduce the perception of pain. It brings back memories and helps create new ones. When you move your body to music – even just tapping a finger – it’s natural physiotherapy.

Live music can transform relationships between patients, families, healthcare professionals, residents and carers. When people enjoy music together, they feel more connected to each other, which leads to more personalised care. Read more about the impact of our live music.

Research shows that live music heals. It can lower blood pressure, reduce cortisol (the stress hormone), and slow heart rate. For hospital patients music can reduce pain, distress, and the need for medication. For those living with dementia or experiencing mental health problems, engaging with live music can improve mood and help people to communicate. Visit our music and health page to find out more.

Our dedicated music team handpicks professional musicians through audition. They’re chosen for their blend of musical talent, sensitivity and people skills.

During a Music in Hospitals & Care live music experience, our musicians offer so much more than playing music. They spend time getting to know the people they’ll share their music with. And they chat with them, finding out about how the music made them feel or the memories it sparked.

We match health and care settings with professional musicians who have the right attributes to sensitively respond to each particular environment, adapting their practice to meet the needs of patients, residents and service users. Meet our musicians.

We aren’t currently looking for any new musicians. We’ll post on our work with us as a musician page when any vacancies come up and make sure to follow us on social media @‌MiHCUK to keep up to date.

Music in Hospitals & Care was established in 1948, the same year as the NHS. From a legacy of the Entertainments National Services Association, who shared live music with wounded service people in military hospitals, to sharing live music with people of all ages living with mental and physical health problems, there have been thousands of moments of joy, laughter, singing, fingers tapping and all kinds of participation and expression in that time. Check out our history timeline to see some of the highlights from our journey so far.

Research shows that not only can live music trigger happy memories and help people to express themselves, it can reduce symptoms such as agitation, anxiety and depression. People living with dementia who’ve taken part in live music became more social, vocal and motivated to talk.

When people are feeling anxious or alone, our live music offers a way to create new memories and share experiences with others, helping relieve frustration, stress and isolation. For people experiencing psychosis, live music can have a positive impact on mental health recovery, positive mental health, and agency.

Live music can make people’s experience of hospital less stressful, especially when they are seriously ill. It can reduce the perception of pain and improve physical and emotional health. It also improves the morale of health and care staff during busy and difficult times, helping them to provide support for the people they look after. Read about our ICU Hear® programme.

Gentle live music can transform a hospital environment, bringing a sense of calm to an often daunting and stressful situation. Music can reduce babies’ heart rates and help them to sleep deeper. This can help babies that are seriously ill to spend less time in hospital. Our award-winning Lullaby Hour offers babies, children and their parents or carers the chance to experience peaceful songs and melodies.

We are not-for-profit, so we rely on donations to make our live music possible. This includes grants from charitable trusts and foundations, gifts from donors, proceeds from individuals and groups fundraise for us, and contributions from the health and care settings where we share live music.

We arrange all of our live music in collaboration with health and care settings, so if you are a relative or friend of someone who could benefit from live music, please ask the care setting to contact us to find out more.

If you’re a health professional, run activities at a care home, lead a community group or , please complete our enquire about live music form and a member of our music delivery team will be in touch to discuss how we can support you.

We’re so grateful to our amazing supporters who raise money for the charity. From getting sponsored for a sporting challenge to hosting an online music quiz, you can have lots of fun raising vital funds for Music in Hospitals & Care. Whatever way you’d like to fundraise, we’ll support you all the way.

Thank you so much for choosing to fundraise for Music in Hospitals & Care. You can make a donation on our website (there will be an opportunity to tell us about how the money was raised) or give us a call on 0204 553 9219.

Want to find out more about Music in Hospitals & Care? Have a question about the healing power of live music? Got a great fundraising idea? Please get in touch with our team today – we’d love to hear from you.