Our Music Jam initiative is due to be rolled out to hospitals across the UK after demonstrating for more than a decade the positive impact it has on the mental health and wellbeing of patients in Edinburgh.
The interactive sessions are helping to redefine how inpatient mental health units support patient wellbeing. Unlike traditional live performances, patients are encouraged to actively sing, play, perform and take part, reflecting what Make Music Day is all about – bringing people together through music.
The Music Jams have already run successfully for over ten years at The Hive, a communal space for patients at the Royal Edinburgh mental health hospital, where they have helped to improve mood and connection.
Following the long-term success at The Hive, we have already begun expanding this approach to three hospitals across Glasgow, with musicians from the North of England shadowing the sessions as part of plans to bring them to Newcastle and then further afield.
The participatory format of the Music Jams is particularly suited to healthcare settings where inpatients often stay for longer periods and benefit from consistent social interaction and creative expression. They share the spirit of Make Music Day by encouraging people to take part in making music together.
Music in Hospitals & Care singer and guitarist Charlie Gorman, who hosts the Music Jams at The Hive, explains: “I’ve seen how valuable and therapeutic participation in music can be to both body and mind. It’s like a weight has been lifted off their shoulders when people make the brave decision to get up on stage and play an instrument or sing a song in front of their friends and other audience members.”
Charlie adds: “A lot of people who come in for the first time find it quite hard to engage. You might have 100 people in The Hive, but once someone gets involved, you can’t get them to sit down! It’s that transformative. It’s especially rewarding because a lot of them are young people, many facing tough situations. They get a lot out of it, both from the experience and the community around them.”
As the programme expands across more NHS psychiatric hospitals, the hope is that these sessions will become a regular part of care and bring the joy of live music into everyday hospital life.
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