Music and health

“We can say that people who experience music, clinically, experience decreases in the level of anxiety, decreases in the level of stress the body experiences, and […] an increase in their wellbeing.”

There is a wealth of information supporting the benefits that experiencing music can have for our health and wellbeing. We are celebrating other organisations doing great work in this area and the important and insightful work taking place to explore how and why music can have such a profound impact for different groups of people.

 

Partner Organisations

 

Explore some of the organisations we have been partnering with to connect people to our sessions and share #JoyThroughLiveMusic. They offer great resources, advice, activities and services which you can incorporate into your daily wellbeing routine.

 

  • Playlist for Life want everyone living with with dementia to have a unique, personal playlist and everyone who loves or cares for them to know how to use it. Music in Hospitals & Care has been working with Playlist for Life Help Points in Wales to bring live music to people in care homes and sheltered accommodation and using their expertise and ‘conversation starters’ resource to bring personal playlists to life.

 

  • Music for Dementia is a national campaign led by The Utley Foundation to make music available for everyone living with dementia. Music in Hospitals & Care is proud to feature on Music for Dementia’s Musical Map, which has been updated to include many virtual and online music services.

 

  • Chiltern Music Therapy is an award winning not-for-profit organisation that provides music therapy and community music to people of all ages across the UK. Their experienced team of Music Therapists can provide a host of digital solutions to help people of all ages with a range of needs.

 

  • Age UK aims to provide life enhancing services and vital support to people in later life. Music in Hospitals & Care works with Age UK to deliver live music in many of their regional centres, including a recent partnership in the North of England and as part of the Campaign to End Loneliness.

 

  • Campaign to End Loneliness is a coalition of organisations and individuals, working together through research, policy, campaigning and innovation to combat loneliness and inspire individuals to keep connected in older age.

 

  • Independent Age provides independent, free information and advice for older people and their families on care and support, money benefits and health and mobility, along with friendship services to relieve loneliness.

 

  • Alzheimer’s Society campaigns for change, funds research to find a cure and supports people living with dementia in the UK today. The charity’s Singing for the Brain sessions brings people affected by dementia together to sing a variety of songs they know and love, in a fun and friendly environment. It also involves fun vocal exercises that help improve brain activity and wellbeing. Alzheimer’s Society are currently offering a virtual Singing for the Brain service – either on internet using Zoom or over the phone (Ring and Sing).

Research

We have been working with Dr Nigel Marshall (University of Sussex) and Prof Kagari Shibazaki (University of Huddersfield) since 2013. The research journey started with a focus on the benefits of live music to older people in healthcare and those with dementia. Dr Marshall and Prof Shibazaki produced a paper Exploring The Impact of Music Concerts in Promoting Wellbeing in Dementia Care.

Having developed such a close working relationship with Dr Marshall and Prof Shibazaki, the original research on which we had embarked became merely ‘Phase One’ of an ongoing programme, which continues to produce valuable information on the impact of our work for various groups of adults and children, family members and other visitors as well as clinical and healthcare staff. Other papers produced during the project include:

Exploring The Benefits and Uses of Musical Experiences in The Context of Dementia Care

Seeking Asylum: The Benefits for Clients, Family Members and Caregivers of Using Music in Hospice Care

Promoting Wellbeing: Amylase as an Indicator of Changes in Stress Level in People with Intellectual Disabilities

Reports & Reviews

Music in Hospitals & Care

Other reports and reviews of interest

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