MUSIC IN CARE SETTINGS
A COLLABORATIVE MUSICAL JOURNEY
In 2025 we worked with Chiltern Music Therapy to bring interactive musical workshops to older adults in care homes across Buckinghamshire. Each workshop combined live music, singing, movement and reminiscence activities. Across the summer, 10 workshops were delivered across 5 different care settings, with around 140 residents and 20 staff members taking part.
“It was absolutely beyond our expectations… Gareth’s energy made it feel like a real party — he truly brought the room to life!”
The collaboration between the instrumentalists and music therapists meant that there was a range of different genres as well as different types of activities offered within the sessions. Each workshop was flexible and responsive. Facilitators improvised around residents’ reactions, creating real musical dialogue. Many residents grew in confidence, from initially hesitant to engaged and singing along. Care homes described sessions as both therapeutic and beautiful, noting that staff themselves felt uplifted and inspired to integrate more music into daily routines.
We are excited to continue our collaboration with Chiltern Music Therapy and bring this project to more participants throughout Bucks.
HORATIO'S GARDEN
In October 2024 we began our collaboration with Horatio’s Garden, a charity which creates beautiful gardens and provides enriching activities for spinal injury patients in NHS hospitals. Our first performances in October & November 2024 took place at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore and Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury. Co-founders Betty and Jonny presented a recital of French and English Baroque songs for soprano and harpsichord.
“It was amazing. I was shivering less, and not just figuratively, I really felt warmed by the music.”
Patients described how powerful the music had felt, and some were moved to tears. Both performances took place in colourful purpose-built rooms in the middle of both gardens; they’re used for a variety of creative activities and performances such as art classes, songwriting, and sewing.
The atmosphere was relaxed and friendly, with cups of tea and homemade parkin cake passed around. The programme of Baroque songs prompted lots of questions from patients about the history of the music, the harpsichord, and the French texts. An audience request in Aylesbury resulted in an impromptu performance of Greensleeves! Everyone left the concerts with a smile. We have a huge amount of respect for the work this charity does supporting people in real need and we hope this is the start of a longstanding collaboration.
