My Story
You shine a light in dark places.
Edward
Creating magical connections
My approach has been honed and developed over many years by my training and experience, both as a professional musician and carer.
I started my career as a concert pianist, then later, opera singer. I have taught music to all ages and from all social backgrounds, from the favelas in Brazil, to private schools in the UK, in classes and one-to-one.
I live in South East London, so my knowledge of the area is relevant to people who I work with. I know local songs they will know about specific places (Lambeth Walk), pubs (Down the old Bull and Bush) and football teams (Charlton Athletic, Red, red robin and West Ham I’m forever blowing bubbles). I have found that local knowledge is a crucial key ingredient to building rapport and becoming part of the family.
My first-hand experience as a carer is rather unique among musicians.
During lockdown I worked 12 hour shifts several days a week for four months.
It was hard work.
I saw care home life from a carer’s perspective. I saw the pressures on us and the challenges in communication. Thanks to a brilliant colleague, Wilson Oshugwe, I felt inspired and motivated to put my caring experience and skills as a musician to good use. I am so grateful to him.
I continued to work in that care home 2 days a week, this time as a musician, applying music in all kinds of situtations in daily care. I kept a diary, I wrote notes and gradually formed a blueprint for how music should, and could be practically integrated into the care of dementia patients.
Boost staff morale
Personal life stories
My approach
How it works in real life situations
Our musicians will:
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Adapt to the schedule of each home
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Maintain an open, kind and friendly attitude
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Solve any pinch points using music as a diagnostic tool
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Mirror dementia patients’ physical gestures
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Match tone of voice and speed of breathing in the case of advance dementia
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Multi-sensory stimulation, touch and eye contact
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Use personally appropriate music
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Learn everyones’ names and use them at the start and end of each session,
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Take time at the end of group music to chat
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Involve staff and boost their confidence in singing
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Strengthen the bond between carers and dementia patients
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Connect with care staff music culture too
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Highly value care staff contribution
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Share resources with activities co-ordinators for their own use
Jane's story (dementia patient)
Janet was feeling cross when I arrived with my keyboard. Although she was sitting waiting for the music to begin, she responded aggressively to any song we did, and swore. When offered the opportunity to leave she refuse and started shouting. Jane used to play the piano and I knew she liked Beethoven’s 9th symphony, so I started to sing the melody, then played it on the piano. She smiled and joined in. For the rest of the group session, she smiled and happily joined in with everything we did, even getting up to dance.
Michael's story (dementia patient)
While singing “Blow the wind southerly”, Michael, who never speaks and shows no sign that he is aware of other people, started to murmur something. A carer said was saying that his mother used to sing it to him. Several weeks went by, when I didn’t see him. Then, the next time he came to the music group, I sang the song again, just for him.
He made no particular reaction and I thought I had been mistaken, but as I was packing up to leave, Michael approached me, deliberately and very slowly, reached out and gave me a hug. He patted my back, and when he let go, he very slowly gave me a kiss on the cheek. This was an extraordinary moment of connection from him.
Jill's story (family member)
I was asked to go and sing to Geoff who was at end of life. His wife was sitting by his bedside so I asked if she wished me to stay. She said yes and I asked if there was a song or singer who Geoff liked. She said he used to love Nat King Cole. I sat and gently sang to him, When I fall in Love while holding his hand. Although he wasn’t able to respond, it was Jill who was very moved and in that moment and space it felt like the song was able to connect them together, remember a happy time and reaffirm their relationship.
Fred's story
Fred is a guitarist and a massive Beatles fan. He absolutely lit up when talking about them, and it brought tears to his eyes. I asked him to bring his guitar to a session and we jammed together to ‘Let it be’ together and everyone in the group joined in including the care staff team. It was very moving. He told me he had written a song called Judgement Day. As he played it, I wrote down the words and the key chords and the following week we performed it together for the group. This gave Fred a huge feeling of achievement and he was applauded by everyone.
Hayley's story (Activities Co-ordinator, Puddingstone Grange)
Eleanor has been providing music therapy sessions in Puddingstone Grange care home located in the Royal Borough of Greenwich for just over two years, predominantly in the Dementia suite.
Puddingstone Grange is managed by Avante care and Support. The philosophy of care is Eden.
As an Activities Co-ordinator working at Puddingstone Grange I have supported Eleanor with singing. I have noticed the remarkable difference in engagement from the residents during the sessions. Their ability to remember the words of the songs has been remarkable. The level in which the sessions is pitched is beneficial to all residents with various needs, cognitive abilities and at different stages in their dementia journey.
The session is incredibly interactive with musical instruments, dancing, song requests from the residents themselves and of course, Eleanor playing live music. All are encouraged to participate, staff and loved ones.
As the sessions developed and I noticed the remarkable change within the care setting for the duration of the sessions, I began to consider if I could, perhaps introduce regular music sessions into the weekly activities planning.
It was through the suggestion of a resident here, to set up a Puddingstone Grange choir that this came about. As it stands today, we have had two performances on a Saturday and regularly sing. The songs we sing are familiar to the residents, partly because Eleanor has sung some of these but also because I researched what songs they may know.
We were luckily enough to have a keyboard donated and through the performances I have learnt, that two residents can play. This has been witnessed by their loved ones and provided a lovely moment for all.
The influence of the sessions, has in my mind, left no doubt that music somehow opens up channels and encourages cognitive abilities.
It has allowed me to enhance my work in my role as an Activities Co-ordinator.