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Music and Wellbeing: The Impact of Music Therapy

Music and Wellbeing: The Impact of Music Therapy

Music is a universal language.  It connects people in ways words sometimes can't. Whether we're tapping our feet to a catchy beat, finding peace or revisiting memories in a familiar tune, music has a unique ability to make us feel better. This is where music therapy steps in, offering not only emotional healing but also physical and mental support.

At Music24 we have first-hand experience of the transformative influence that music has on people’s lives.  Bringing music therapy principles to our community music group sessions, we help individuals across Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire who live with dementia, learning disabilities, and mental health conditions. Every week, we demonstrate the profound benefits of music therapy and the powerful impact it has on people’s lives.

What is Music Therapy?

Music therapy is an evidence-based practice that uses music to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs. Trained music therapists, qualified in both music and therapeutic techniques, use music in a structured and purposeful way to help individuals achieve improved communication skills, enhanced cognitive function, emotional expression and creativity.

Unlike simply listening to music, music therapy is an active, therapeutic process. Sessions can involve activities like playing instruments, singing, songwriting, or even rhythmic exercises. The therapist tailors the activities to each individual's needs, using music to develop an ever-growing sense of accomplishment, self-expression, and connection.

The Benefits of Music Therapy

  1. Improved Cognitive Function For people living with dementia or Alzheimer’s, music therapy can improve memory and cognitive function. Music activates areas of the brain simultaneously, including those involved in memory, attention, and emotional processing. For individuals with dementia, listening to familiar songs or participating in music-based activities can trigger memories and help reduce confusion or agitation.

  2. Emotional Expression and Healing Many people with mental health conditions struggle to express their emotions. Music provides a safe outlet for self-expression, helping individuals connect with their feelings and express them in a non-verbal way. The rhythms, melodies, and harmonies of music can bring a sense of calm and joy by making music ‘in the moment’.

  3. Social Connection Group music therapy sessions provide a unique opportunity for individuals to engage socially, creating bonds with others in a supportive, non-judgmental environment. Whether it's singing together, playing instruments in unison, or just sharing the experience of music, these sessions encourage collaboration, reduce isolation, and create a sense of belonging.

  4. Physical Benefits Music therapy can also have a positive impact on physical health. For people with physical disabilities or those recovering from illness, rhythmic music can improve coordination, motor skills, and muscle strength. Percussion instruments, for example, can help develop motor skills, while dancing or movement activities can improve balance and mobility.  Singing is also proven to benefit those living with lunch conditions and improves breathing.

  5. Reduced Anxiety and Stress Music has the power to soothe and relax.  This is particularly helpful for individuals with mental health conditions like anxiety or depression. The calming effects of music can help lower heart rates, reduce blood pressure, and promote a state of relaxation, making music therapy an effective tool for overall well-being.

Music24 Brings Therapeutic Music Sessions to the Heart of the Community

Everyone is a musician in our eyes!  Music24 is dedicated to providing high-quality music therapy-based services to individuals in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. Our weekly community music group sessions offer a space for people living with dementia, learning disabilities, and mental health conditions to experience the benefits of therapeutic music sessions in a welcoming and supportive environment.

Each week, we bring people together to participate in music-based activities, all under the guidance of trained, qualified music therapists, our session support workers and experienced volunteers. The community music groups offer a safe and inclusive space where everyone can take part, regardless of their ability level, whether it's joining in with a simple percussion instrument, singing along, or participating in more complex musical activities, the goal is to nurture a sense of togetherness and achievement.

How Music24 is Making a Difference

For over ten years, Music24 has been making a difference to people throughout Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. From providing our Dementia group service users with the opportunity to connect with their carers, loved ones and others in the group through song and gentle dance, to those with learning disabilities who we support by helping them to gain confidence, enhance their creativity and build social skills; Music24’s work is a testament to the transformative power of music.

One participant, who struggles with their mental health, recently shared how our sessions had brought a sense of purpose and joy back into their life.

“I’m on medication for ADHD and Bipolar, but you need more than medication to take care of mental health conditions.  Music24 gives me an opportunity to create music and it is very therapeutic.  It helps if I’m in a depression, I’ll come out and be in a good mood.”  They went on to explain, “Music24 gives a really spontaneous, generative form of creativity that is very immediate and wonderful.  It’s jamming really.  When I leave each session I’m on a great note;  I have a spring to my step. It makes me feel enabled, very happy and full of potential. ”

Music is a powerful tool for healing, health and wellbeing, through it we can inspire change and improve lives.

If you or a loved one could benefit from Music24’s services, please contact us by email info@music24.org.uk or telephone 01582 250024.

Music24 celebrates Volunteers' Week 2021

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Music24 celebrates Volunteers' Week 2021

At Music24, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do without the support and dedication of our team of volunteers. Here, Teela, our CEO, hosts an interview with three volunteers - Paula, Jackie and Brian, and they discuss what it is to be a volunteer and how it helps both the charity and themselves to achieve great things.

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There's a New Project coming to Biggleswade

There's a New Project coming to Biggleswade

Music24 is please to announce the launch of their new pilot project in Biggleswade for adults with Learning Disabilities. The new project, entitled ‘Biggles Rock’ has been seed-funded by funding through the Tesco Bags of Help Scheme. Voting took place in the local Tesco Store in Sandy during Nov-Dec 2018. It was announced in January that Music24 had come 2nd place with their project and had been awarded £2,000 to set the venture up.

Music24 plan to use this funding to help set up a new group offering opportunities for singing, dancing and socialising. The group will take place on a Wednesday afternoon at the Masonic Centre (St Andrew’s Rooms). Music24 are holding taster sessions in the lead up to it’s launch in May 2019.

For more info, call Teela on 01582 240025 or email teela@music24.org.uk.

Quiz Night @ Creasey Park, Friday 24 June

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Quiz Night @ Creasey Park, Friday 24 June

We're raising money for our much needed work involving children and adults with various learning disabilities in Luton. 

'The Cadence Project' is due to start in January 2017 and help children and adults facing difficulties in life including learning disabilites such as autism, asperger's, ADHD, multipule/profound disabilies and other life-limiting conditions. 

Music helps us to express the inexpressible. So join us for a night of fun and banter, and maybe some amusing trivia! 

Tickets are £5 each, you can pay in advance or through our localgiving.com/music24 page by entering code: 'QuizNight1' and we will add you to our guest list! (P.S. we get Gift Aid this way!)

The bar is available and there will be a raffle held where our service users and local businesses will be donating raffle prizes. 1st, 2nd, 3rd prizes TBC. We have room for 6 teams of 6-8 people. Either apply as a ready-made team or as an individual and we will put you in a team. Best of luck!

For our Facebook event page, click here.

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