A Family Affair – 12/2/2013

Walking onto one of the wards today myself, Richard, Sarah and Roxy observed the space and it was suggested by Sarah and Richard that we spread out around the ward which was in a horse shoe shape with private rooms on the side. This meant that as we dispersed around the room we had to listen out for what each other were playing and respond sensitively to each other as our aim was for us all to be engaged in interactions. On first entering the space we played Sunshine in my heart, an uplifting song. On my left hand side there was a young boy, his father and his sister. The father was hugging the young boy and swaying to the music. Richard handed the young boy and the farther a shaker, which they took with enthusiasm. However, the young girl was reluctant and did not take the shaker. Despite this she sat with her brother and father whilst we played the song. When the song ended the father and young boy requested more. So I conversed with Sarah who was with Roxy on the other side of the room and she signalled to Richard who had gone into one of the side rooms. We then began playing another song Zamina. The father and his son started playing instantly and I could see that the young girl was interested in having a shaker of her own so I went and got one for her out of the box. After the first time round playing Zamina I could hear the father singing the harmony to the songs melody and he had placed his mouth near the ear of his son and was singing this harmony softly. Half way through Zamina the mother had returned to the young boy’s bed side, at first she sat down and picked up a magazine and seemed uninterested. Then all of a sudden she started dancing and so I handed her a shaker, and by the end of the song the whole family were playing and dancing. During their musical interaction the family shared a precious moment where they were group hugging and were swaying in unison to the song. We then played yellow bird and the dancing and singing continued. Jane Edwards (2011) writes how using music is valuable for parent and infant bonding and in this musical interaction I was able to witness the family bonding with each other.