Singing for connection and health
Since March 2020, I have been delivering 3 – 4 live online singing sessions a week as well as recording video for those who would prefer not to join a live session. I have also been delivering online training for Sing to Beat Parkinson’s and delivering webinars for different arts organisations including ABCD, Trinity Laban and BVA. A first this new approach was scary and exhausting but overtime I have settled into this “new world” and have found myself more creative than in real life. My highlight has been working on HerStory: Ev’ry Stitch in the Quilt with Carve Colab. You can see the results here Artistic collective | CARVE coLAB
The strangest thing about this last year, apart from the rollercoaster of emotions we have all been on, is that I actually feel closer to my participants. The reason I work with singing as an intervention (specialising in working with people living with Parkinson’s and those affected by mental health issues) is that music is such leveller but Covid-19 has been the biggest leveller of them all. No one has not been affected by this year but we have all kept on singing, kept on creating together. I would love to see more projects like ENO Breathe – a fantastic partnership between an arts organisation and the NHS, targeting those with long covid.
music is such leveller but Covid-19 has been the biggest leveller of them all. No one has not been affected by this year but we have all kept on singing, kept on creating together.
We were always part of communities but this year has tightened that feeling and I cannot wait to get back in the room and raise our voices together in song. When singing in a group together it has been proven that it is good for your health but singing together it is more than that, it creates communities that care.
For Creativity and Wellbeing Week I will be co-leading a session for Music in Offices about how to make you choir mental health inclusive. I have been research assistant on a project Singing Side by Side where we are developing a toolkit other choir leaders. My Mind and Soul Community Choir, for those affected by mental health issues will also be joining. Find out more about the session by registering here:
