Posterous theme by Cory Watilo

Well Sing


Exploring singing for health and wellbeing

Articles on music in dementia care

I just wanted to let you know that my articles on music in dementia
care just came out.

1. This article is about "Singing for the Brain".

Expanding a Care Network for People with Dementia and their Carers
Through Musicking: Participant Observation with “Singing for the
Brain” by Mariko Hara
https://normt.uib.no/index.php/voices/article/view/570

2. This one mainly discusses the mixed research methods in order to
investigate how music can be used in dementia care (using the data I
have obtained from SFTB members)

Music in Dementia Care: Increased Understanding Through Mixed Research
Methods by Mariko Hara
http://musicandartsinaction.net/index.php/maia/article/view/musicanddementia

Any feedback on the articles will be appreciated!

Mariko Hara
http://www.marikohara.net/

Song Share from the Singing and Health unConference, Oxford, 8th April 2011

(download)

Edited highlights from the song share session at the Singing and Health unConference, Oxford, 8th April 2011 - apologies, it's a pretty rough cut....

1. Yellow Bird
2. Oh No John
3. If I Knew You Were Coming
4. What's New Pussycat
5. Blue Danube
6. An Eriskay Love Lilt
7. I'm Gonna Lift My Brother Up
8. Cap'n, Don't Sidetrack My Train / Chika Hanka

Song Share 15th April 2011

(download)

Here are the edited highlights from the song share that took place at the end of the day on Friday 15th April 2011 - apologies some of the tracks seem to have been cut short at the beginning or the end, but hopefully it will give you all some ideas. 

1. Tomorrow is another day (in 2 parts (sort of!) with the clapping pattern)
2. Daisy Daisy (verse 2)
3. What Shall We Do When the Baby Cries? (with ostinato)
4. Wade in the Water (with ostinato)
5. There's a Bird on a Branch
6. Kum Ba Yah (with harmony)
7. Travellin' (as a round)
8. I Wanna Banana
9. Senwa Da Dende (as a round)
10. Mo Pako Mino Sway
11. NaNuma

notes from the unconference

Hi Everyone,

This is from the other Liz at the unConference - Liz Hodgson from Oxford.
I attach:
     Various notes I took in sessions, plus some of the information Janet ( Stansfeld ) and I pulled together when trying to connect with GPs and our local Primary Care Trust - no response, but here you are anyway.

Best wishes and good luck
Liz

Click here to download:
Singing_feedback.doc (26 KB)
(download)

Click here to download:
Health_benefits_of_singing_-_research_summary.doc (32 KB)
(download)

Click here to download:
unconference notes 2011.doc (26 KB)
(download)

friday april 8

Thank you Rachel for setting up such an interesting morning, and the opportunity to meet so many good peopel!

In one of the groups I was in on Friday, I mentioned a short video which you can find on youtube. A woman in a very withdrawn, isolated stage of dementia who emerges into singing.  It's very moving, and powerful evidence of what singing can bring about. Just type in Gladys Wilson and Naomi Feil.  Could be helpful perhaps for care staff or managers to watch, if you're wanting to encourage care staff to join in?
Ideas from one of the groups I joined:

I had an experience recently which led to my question about how to run groups responsibly, especially where there may be very vulnerable participants - for example in a mental health care setting. If we're going in as outsiders, paid or unpaid, there may be rules of confidentiality which mean that we get very little information about the individuals in the group beforehand, and can't get much feedback or support after a session either.  Our role/responsibilities will probably be a bit of a grey area and boundaries unclear. Can be difficult if something happens during a session.   

Some of you will be doing these things already, but here are some useful points made in our group:- 

At the initial discussion stage re setting up a group or sessions with an 'organisation', take your own code of practice (Music Leader and the Musicians Union have good ones apparently, and Sound Sense).  The organisation may have their own code of practice too about how to manage visiting facilitators/volunteers etc.  

List all your needs (room size, group size, and so on), and what support you'd like. Have a discussion about support/boundaries/confidentiality/debriefing and so on, and about what you need to know in order to plan suitable material/activities and so on.  

Putting these things in place at the outset helps establish you as a serious practitioner too, rather than someone who comes in to just do a bit of singing.

Thank you again, everyone.

Liz

Musicleader Code of Practice

Screen_shot_2011-04-09_at_10

Many of the discussions yesterday touched upon the importance of developing professional practice. 

The Music Leader code of practice provides a general starting point, with a checklist of different areas of practice. For example, sections on preparation and materials, liaison with the organisation you are working with, evaluation and professional development. 

Whilst not specific to working in health care settings, I found it a useful way to think about my practice when starting out. 

It could also be a good tool for talking to funders or commissioners to help them understand all the different parts of running a singing project: and so could also be a useful resource for the discussions on 'getting paid' and 'communicating what music for health is' and the work involved. 

You can find the full code of practice (the image above is just the headings) here http://www.musicleader.net/content.asp?CategoryID=1279

Does anyone else use the code? You can share your experience of it using the comments feature.