Search
Close this search box.
OPUS Music CIC Logo in White

Training

Music in Healthcare Training Opportunity: 31st October, 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th November 2013

DSC_7887 edited smallWe are pleased to announce that our next Music in Healthcare Settings training programme for musicians will take place on 31st October, 1st, 4th, 5th and 6th November 2013. This will take place at the Kedleston Road Training and Development Centre in Derby, UK, with part of the time spent at the Royal Derby Hospital/Derbyshire Children’s Hospital.

A full brief and application form are attached below. You are advised to send your application asap as places usually fill up quickly.
Please get in touch with any questions you may have.

Music in Healthcare Training opportunity Artists Brief Oct-Nov 2013 (pdf)

Application Form (doc)
Application Form (pdf)

Some of the feedback from trainees on our previous courses:

‘Thank you so much for this opportunity. It was such a pleasure to explore such an exciting aspect of music making with such lovely like minded musicians, with such a high level of professional standard from the trainers delivering this course. I can’t believe we made such fantastic progress in only five days, and I am thoroughly invigorated by what I have seen can be achieved with music in a hospital setting.’

‘This course is really is a must for any musician who wishes to work in healthcare settings. The course leaders are lovely to work with and obviously are very passionate and knowledgeable about their vocation. It’s a massive learning curve, and you must approach it with an open mind and willingness to learn, but you get a lot of support in a really welcoming and friendly environment. I’ve come away feeling inspired and challenged and informed and able to use all I’ve learnt in my own practice straightaway. It is also amazingly good value for money!’

‘Professional, personally and as a musician, this has been absolutely the best course I’ve ever been on. It’s been a fantastic privilege working with a supportive group of musicians, superb facilitation from the course team and a great mix of theory and practice which has equipped me to start my journey into working in healthcare settings.’

‘A fantastic week for those who are interested in learning more about music in a healthcare setting, expanding their repertoire, developing skills in improvising and meeting some truly lovely people!’

‘This course is an excellent introduction and grounding in the professional practice of music in healthcare. It is presented with great professionalism and expertise.’

‘This will test and stretch the way you think about delivering any kind of music intervention. I’d recommend you have previously at least practised this in some way so that you can self-examine and reflect. 100% professional programme in content and delivery. Complements all other training I’ve done and widened my horizons.’

‘Bring an open mind, and be prepared to learn and share.’

‘The course gives an exciting insight into what music in healthcare is like, which can really open your eyes to something new, I know it did for me. There is the chance to experiment with music within a comfortable, relaxed setting, which as a person who hates improvising I found completely stress free and fun. As well as this you learn so many transferable skills for jobs including music and for everyday life which makes the course really worth while.’

Keep CALM and make music…

It’s a busy week this week. Sarah and Richard are making music in Nottingham, Derbyshire and Kings Mill children’s hospitals working with patients, visitors and staff. Meanwhile Nick had an early start this morning to head over to Ireland for 3 days for the launch of a fabulous new organisation CALM (Ceol Agus Lán Maitheas) which has been established by highly trained music in healthcare colleagues from Ireland to provide training and mentoring for musicians and healthcare staff. Nick will be contributing to a training day and an international seminar day during his visit. Meanwhile here are some pretty clouds over the Irish sea…

image

St George’s Day

 

We were working on a ward in Leicester Hospital on Tuesday 23rd April and played our way round to a corner room where the door was wide open. Inside there was a little baby all dressed in green pyjamas. When he saw us he looked quite anxious – Who were these People? What were they carrying with them? And what were they going to do?

 

I was reminded of the training we had recently been doing with musicians in healthcare, and the ethics we had discussed. I knew I wanted to provide some nice music for this young man to enhance his stay in hospital, but was very aware I did not want to alarm him. He was in a very vulnerable position, with assisted breathing equipment, in a seated position in bed, with no adult he knew nearby.

 

We decided to play Twinkle, with no eye contact, just letting the music reach out to him and then observed his reactions. The music became part of his environment and more normal to him. He appeared to relax and began to smile intermittently.

 

My intention was then to help him feel more comfortable with us being there and thereby allow him access to more music and to enjoy himself.

 

Slowly, but surely, the smiling became more frequent, movement increased with stretching, reaching, sitting up and leg extensions – dancing as much as he could. He started to tip his head back, mouth wide in a silent laughter and caught my eye with glee – as if teasing me. Eye contact now not a threat to him, we shared quite long gazes.

 

I left him apparently relaxed and smiling and his nurse came by and shared the moment with us. I was reminded of how important eye contact is at the right time and with the right intensity, and felt so glad I had my training to help me make this interaction successful for this little baby and indeed a lovely experience for both of us.

Music in Healthcare Settings Training

DSC_7887 edited small

From 11th-17th April, we have been busy delivering our latest 5-day training course for musicians, exploring the skills and competencies required of a musician to work in healthcare settings.

Over the course of five days, 8 trainees and 3 trainers have worked together to develop their skills, knowledge and awareness and visited the Derbyshire Children’s Hospital to make music with patients, visitors and staff on medical and surgical wards, in Neonatal Intensive Care and in Children’s Accident and Emergency.

All found the training experience to be stimulating, exciting and hugely developmental. We would like to thank our fantastic group of trainees for their music, their passion for this practice and for their deep reflection which has helped us all to learn and to develop.

Thanks also to our funders and supporters of this practice, including the Derbyshire Children’s Hospital, Youth Music and Derbyshire Music Partnership for making this training course possible.

DSC_7882 edited small

Music in Healthcare Training – Brighton

It’s a great pleasure to be spending time in Brighton this week, working alongside the lovely Kate Murdoch at the invitation of Rhythmix to deliver a week of Music in Healthcare training to a group of 10 trainees. We have a great group with broad-ranging backgrounds and interests which should make for a really rich week of learning for all of us.

Today was spent in the training room, enjoying music-making together, beginning to generate shared repertoire within the group, and looking at the background to arts/music in health in the UK today. Lots for everyone to take in from today, but a great start. Tomorrow will be another training room day, exploring music-making on a one-to-one basis before heading off to the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital together on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons to make music on the wards with children and young people, their visitors and staff.

Many thanks to Rhythmix and Kate for the invitation. It’s great to be working with you.

Taking the lead on music for wellbeing

A great evening of training and music-making last night with a group of young people and volunteers from the Drop Inn in Belper, Derbyshire. We are working with these young people, developing their musical and leadership skills and working towards taking music sessions into their local care home. A fascinating and challenging project but should be really rewarding for everyone involved.

Music in Healthcare Training Opportunity – 11th-17th April 2013

We are pleased to announce that our next Music in Healthcare Settings training programme for musicians will take place on 11th, 12th, 15th, 16th and 17th April. This will take place in Derby, UK, with part of the time spent at the Royal Derby Hospital/Derbyshire Children’s Hospital.
A full brief and application form are attached below. You are advised to send your application asap as places may fill up quickly.
Please get in touch with any questions you may have.

Music in Healthcare Training opportunity Artists Brief April 2013
Application Form (pdf)
Application Form (.doc)

Some of the feedback from our last course:

‘Thank you so much for this opportunity. It was such a pleasure to explore such an exciting aspect of music making with such lovely like minded musicians, with such a high level of professional standard from the trainers delivering this course. I can’t believe we made such fantastic progress in only five days, and I am thoroughly invigorated by what I have seen can be achieved with music in a hospital setting.’

Music in Healthcare Settings Training

It’s the final day of our 5-day music in healthcare training today, and we’ve had a great time exploring the skills and competencies required to deliver this work alongside a fabulous group of trainees. We’ve spent time in the training room exploring, alongside many other things, repertoire, improvisation and ethical principles behind this practice. We’ve also spent a couple of afternoons at Derbyshire Children’s Hospital, playing music for and with patients, visitors and staff on surgical and medical wards, in the neonatal unit and in A&E. Final day today bringing all our learning and experiences together. Many thanks to our trainees for embarking on this journey with enquiring minds, a spirit of adventure and enthusiasm, and a real passion for this practice.

Music in Healthcare Settings Training, Derby: 25th-31st October 2012

DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 28TH SEPTEMBER 2012

OPUS Music CIC is currently engaged in a residency at Derbyshire Children’s Hospital. This residency has been in place since December 2010, with OPUS musicians visiting the hospital on a regular basis to make music for and with patients, visitors and staff.

From September 2012, OPUS will also deliver new residencies within children’s wards at Leicester Royal Infirmary, Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham and Kings Mill Hospital in Sutton in Ashfield.

These residencies are supported by funding from Youth Music, Derbyshire Children’s Hospital, Nottinghamshire County Council and Leicester City Council with additional support from all partner hospitals, Derbyshire Music Education Hub, soundLINCS and Natal percussion.

As part of this programme of activity, OPUS is offering training for musicians who already work in, or have an interest in working in healthcare settings. Whilst this training will focus primarily on working with hospitalised children and young people, the theoretical background and practice will also be of benefit to those who wish to work with other age groups.

Following the training, there may be opportunities to join OPUS musicians in delivering musical interventions in healthcare settings as part of these residencies or in other programmes of work. We cannot however currently offer any paid work beyond this training.

Training takes place on 25th, 26th, 29th, 30th and 31st October 2012 in Derby, UK. This training programme is subsidised through project funding and as such we require payment of only £75 total for the 5 days of training (payable on acceptance onto the course).

‘I came away from the course with a desire to start doing this work in my own area – it was some of the most fulfilling music work I have done.’
‘I have found understanding in an area that seemed so out of reach before. I have broadened my horizons and developed my passion for this area further.’

‘Really valuable training. The best I’ve done with youth music.’
‘Thank you very much for a brilliant course!!’

Music in Healthcare Training opportunity Artists Brief (pdf)
Music in Healthcare Training application form (pdf)
Music in Healthcare Training application form
(word)

Contact: training@opusmusic.org