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music therapy

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.

Talking with Beyond Sound podcaster, Yasmin Cox

Talking with Beyond Sound podcaster, Yasmin Cox

Back in May, Music24’s Graeme Davis sat down with journalism graduate and Beyond Sound podcast host, Yasmin Cox, to chat about music therapy interventions and myths.

We are pleased to share this interesting podcast now and hope you enjoy listening. The podcast, What Is Music Therapy? A Chat With Graeme Davis, is found below or on the music platform Spotify.

Music24's Dementia Choir's Performance at Luton Dementia Conference

Music24's Dementia Choir's Performance at Luton Dementia Conference

Participants of Music24’s dementia group in Luton were please to be invited to represent the charity at the Alzheimer’s Society’s Luton Dementia Conference 2022.

For the occasion, the group wrote a special song about being together and their experiences from the therapeutic music sessions they attend at Music24 every week. Here’s the group in action on Wednesday 12th October 2022:

 
 

Sing Together by Music24

Verse 1

Come and sit down

Tell me what’s going on

Just a cup of ‘Rosie Lee’

Soon it won’t take long

To see your smile again

Come on, my old friend – and let’s

 

Chorus

Sing – sing together

Sing – together we’re better

Sing – let’s sing together

Sing with me

 

Verse 2

Sometimes, it might get mad

And other times, we’re glad

You bring the sunshine to my heart

Yeah we have a good laugh – when we

 

Chorus

Sing – sing together

Sing – together we’re better

Sing – let’s sing together

Sing with me

 

Bridge

Sometimes when things get tough

Oh yeah, when you’ve had enough

I’ll be there for you

Like you are there for me! And we’ll –

 

Chorus

Sing – sing together

Sing – together we’re better

Sing – let’s sing together

Sing with me

Singing Cafe coming to Leighton Buzzard this May!

Singing Cafe coming to Leighton Buzzard this May!

We’re pleased to report that we will be starting a new Singing Cafe in Leighton Buzzard from Friday 13th! We’re very excited to bring this new opportunity to residents in the Leighton & Linslade are and look forward to watching the group grow! Thank you to Leighton-Linslade Town Council for supporting this venture, it’s much appreciated.

We will set subsequently on the 2nd & 4th Friday afternoons of every month there after if all is a success. Details below:

 
 


Friends with Voices at London Luton Airport

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Friends with Voices at London Luton Airport

The month of May brought us Dementia Awareness Week 2017... and for this, Friends with Voices joined forces again to raise awareness to dementia and promote all the wonderful things that are happening in Luton. 

A video, produced by London Luton Airport, accumulated a whopping 16k+ views! Here's the video of a little sing-a-long we had whilst there:

A nice Costa coffee after the show! 

A nice Costa coffee after the show! 

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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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