Re-Connecting

The morning’s Healthcare Musician practice had joys that ranged from the first smile of a very young baby in the Neonatal Unit to the last song of an older person’s life.

As I take a few moments to reflect upon what it means to be back in hospitals making music, I am once again overwhelmed by the human connection and depth of emotion tapped into by musical interactions in person.

As OPUS musicians, we profoundly felt the frustrations of not being able to be involved and to be present within the spaces at all for the last three years. It has taken such a lot to come back to work, and we are so delighted to be doing it once again. As the crisis of COVID-19 slips a little more into the past, we now find ourselves as Healthcare Musicians able to bring something of connective humanity into these difficult and delicate spaces once more.

We took our time in choosing the right moment and piece of music for the new family in the NICU. Twinkle Twinkle was chosen. The parents videoed their little one as they seemed to be sleeping. Then, just gradually, the first little smile appeared across their face. Then once and twice more before the final verse was sung. How special it was as Dad went back through the video and froze the frame where he saw his little one smile for the very first time. How wonderful to play this intimate role in helping to make memories for this family from such an early age.

For the older person we met later that same morning, it seemed hard to choose the piece to play to begin with. What would have the right content for this human being who had lived a long full life and was nearing the end of the journey? Having spoken with the relative, who had enthusiastically beckoned us in, we settled on Diamond Day – a lovely gentle piece including elements of descriptors of the countryside, the horses passing, the crops growing, and the people that you meet as you go through life. We were then told that they had owned a cart horse when very young and had often spoken about this. We had, fortunately, picked something truly connective and meaningful for this family experience.

Another older patient videoed us playing and singing Edelweiss all through. At the end they said “Aw, that was romantic! We do need a bit of that right now, don’t we?!” I think I know just what they meant…

It is important to reflect that these in person experiences are potentially powerful and meaningful for both the patients AND the Healthcare Musician. It is part our chosen professional musical world, and for the last three years there has been a definite void…

– Sarah Matthews

Recruiting OPUS Board Members

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Recruiting OPUS Board Members

We are looking to recruit at least 2 additional board members (voluntary) to support our ambitious plans for the development our organisation and practice, our engagement with the health and social care sector, and our relationship with our communities with whom we co-produce improved health and wellbeing outcomes.

Please consider joining us in taking the next steps of our exciting journey!

More information about OPUS Music CIC is available in the linked document: OPUS information February 2023

Board member (Voluntary)

Main Responsibilities

Ensuring OPUS Music CIC complies with legislative and regulatory requirements, and acts within the confines of its governing document (Articles of Association), company law, policies and other relevant legislation or regulations.
Maintaining sound financial management of OPUS Music CIC’s resources, ensuring expenditure is in line with the organisation’s objects, mission and vision.
Contributing actively to the board’s role in offering strategic input to OPUS Music CIC in partnership with the artistic and production teams.
Evaluating outputs against agreed goals and targets.
Safeguarding the good name and values of OPUS Music CIC.
Promoting and developing OPUS Music CIC in order for it to grow and maintain its relevance to society.
Interviewing, appointing and monitoring the work and activities of the Chief Executive and other members of the OPUS team as/when required.
Ensuring the effective and efficient administration of OPUS Music CIC and its resources.
Acting as a counter-signatory on charity cheques and any applications for funds, if required.
Maintaining absolute confidentiality about all sensitive/confidential information received in the course of board members’ responsibilities to OPUS Music CIC.

In addition to the above statutory duties, each board member should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the board reach sound decisions.

This may involve:

Leading discussions

Focusing on key issues

Providing advice and guidance on new initiatives

Evaluation or other issues in which the board member has special expertise

Members are expected to attend all board meetings unless under exceptional circumstances. Board meetings are held four times a year and usually take part online via MS Teams (in person at least once per year). Papers are distributed a minimum of one week in advance of the meeting.

In exceptional circumstances, board members may be called to extraordinary meetings. EGMs are held for the consideration of non-recurring business that requires approval by the board and will be held online.

Board away-days may be held (a maximum of two per year), at which members are encouraged to attend where possible. Away-days are held in person and focus on discrete areas of development or of significant relevance at the time.

Board members may claim out of pocket expenses incurred in travelling to meetings.

We warmly welcome applications from those who are significantly underrepresented in our organisation and sector, including disabled people, and individuals from LGBTQIA+, Black, Asian and Global Majority Communities. We are particularly keen to hear from members of the communities we serve or work alongside.

How to apply

In the first instance, please get in touch with Nick Cutts, Chief Executive, OPUS Music CIC for a conversation about becoming a board member.

07786 157515
nick@opusmusic.org

OPUS’ return to music-making at Leicester Children’s Hospital

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An impactful return to music-making at Leicester Children's Hospital

We’re delighted to be back at Leicester Children’s Hospital on a weekly basis, making music for and with patients, their families and visitors and the wonderful multi-disciplinary team of healthcare staff. Whilst we’ve been working at the hospital since 2012, our visits have been on hold during the COVID pandemic. 21 September 2022 saw our long-awaited return to practice, and it’s been wonderful to witness the impact so far. It’s great to be back!

Sarah Matthews and Oli Matthews at Leicester Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Healthcare Musician Nick Cutts making music with patients and healthcare staff

Nick Cutts

Nick Cutts making music for patients

Healthcare Musician Oli Matthews working on the Children's Critical Care Unit

Matron and Deputy Head of Nursing at the Children's Hospital Evelyn Gysei-Appiah and Deputy Chief Nurse Robin Binks with Healthcare Musicians Sarah Matthews and Oli Matthews

I have music in my hands, in my feet and in my heart.

Wednesdays are the best day of the week when the OPUS musicians are touring the wards, lifting the spirits of staff and engaging patients and families in age appropriate songs 🙂

Very positive, lovely for parents to see their child enjoying it.

They not only impact patients and families, you can always visibly see staff relax and stress levels drop as they enter the ward, everyone loves to hear them play and it makes such a difference to the whole team.

It’s a great distraction and a lovely calming experience

My 15 year old who has severe learning difficulties, who loves music, was immediately able to engage with you and your music when you kindly came and offered us a solo performance as she was too distressed to stay in the main waiting area. You left her (and me) relaxed and really set the tone for the rest of our day. The way in which you approached her, and the music you played, displayed your skills and experience in working with children and young people in what can be a very distressing environment.

We are extremely grateful for the support of Leicester Hospitals Charity in enabling our return to practice at the Children’s Hospital.

musiccareconference

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Music Care Conference - Presented in Hybrid format from Vancouver, Canada

10 Reasons to Come to Music Care Conference 2022

Learn and experience how music supports your health and wellness

An amazing group of speakers (see below) explain how they are using music in care

Hear Susan Aglukark, named 2022 Junos Humanitarian of the year, tell her story
Meet Dr. Corene Thaut, co-founder of neurologic music therapy, and the impact of her work

Great value! $130/person, seniors/students $75 including lunch and refreshments

Amazing location! – at the Anvil Centre in New Westminster, across from the Sky Train

Hybrid! If you can’t attend in person, come virtually – $75/person – 9-4:30 PST

Exhibitors and music store on site

Network! Make some new friends who share your interest in music and care

Discover current research on music and health topics

note published times for this conference are in PST (8 hours behind GMT

REGISTER HERE

Marketing and Communications Manager

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We're recruiting: Marketing and Communications Manager

Download: Full details including person specification
Download: OPUS Music CIC background information

OPUS Music CIC (OPUS) is looking to engage a dynamic, forward-thinking person to manage OPUS’ marketing and communications. This role is offered initially for a period of 2 years and is offered on a flexible, self-employed basis of 80 days per year. The role is supported by funding from Youth Music’s Recharge Fund. We hope to both expand and extend the role over the 2-year period subject to further funding.

Role Purpose
• With support from Chief Executive Nick Cutts, to continuously develop and enact OPUS’ marketing and communications strategy
• To engage stakeholders and audiences in dialogue through appropriate methods and platforms in order to capitalise upon partnerships and expand OPUS’ reach

Operational Responsibilities

• To create and post marketing and communications content (with support from the Chief Executive and artistic team) to ensure that the messages and stories of OPUS’ practice are heard by a wide variety of stakeholders and audiences
• To work alongside marketing and communications teams within partner organisations to ensure that communications are appropriate, collaborative and impactful
• To promote training and other opportunities to the Arts/Music and Health/Care sectors utilising media/platforms as deemed appropriate (with support as required from the Chief Executive and/or artistic team)
• To ensure that OPUS’ web-based content is up-to-date and refreshed appropriately
• To develop marketing and communications materials (with the support of the Chief Executive and Creative Team) as appropriate
• To engage in networking, gathering contacts and connections for OPUS through a variety of channels
• To keep informed on current developments within this rapidly developing area of work and respond to these in a timely manner

Role/Fees
The role is offered on a on a flexible, self-employed basis with a fee available of £150 per day for 80 days per year (nominally 2 days per week for 40 weeks of the year).

Place of work
You will need to work from your own base and provide all facilities such as own computer, printer, broadband connection and telephone. No additional fees are available to cover costs associated with equipment/ office base.

Contract
The appointment will start as soon as possible with the role currently anticipated to run for a minimum period of 2 years. The contract will include a 3-month probationary period, at the end of which either party may terminate the contract.

Equality and Diversity
We welcome applications from all sections of the community, particularly those currently under-represented within OPUS Music CIC and the Arts and Health sector.

How to apply
Please send a letter of application detailing how you meet the person specification (no more than 2 sides of A4), with an accompanying CV, including the names of two referees to nick@opusmusic.org

Please direct any questions to Chief Executive Nick Cutts:
nick@opusmusic.org
Tel: 07786 157515

Your application should arrive no later than 5pm on Wednesday 26th October.
We will inform candidates who have been shortlisted for interview on Friday 28th October.
Interviews will be held via MS Teams on the morning of Friday 4th November.

Practicing Well Awards

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We are delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted for a ‘Practicing Well Award’ by the Culture, Health and Wellbeing Alliance.
https://www.culturehealthandwellbeing.org.uk/chwa-2021-awards-shortlist-practising-well

This award celebrates practice that is leading the way in championing, delivering and embedding practitioner care into project design, commissioning and management.

The Musician in Healthcare role is one which necessitates deep connection with the patient, facilitated by music-making. The pandemic, and resulting loss in these daily connections could have been devastating for our community of musicians. We chose to invest in our team, to support the development of digital skills through the provision of paid time, resources and collaboration. This has resulted in a healthy, inspired workforce, a continued and highly valued connection with the healthcare communities they serve, and a bright future for OPUS.

‘We are thrilled to have been nominated for this award. We’re delighted that the value of investing in our team of musicians has been recognised in this way, and that we stand here today with a team who have been supported throughout the pandemic, facilitated to meet challenge with skilled enthusiasm, rather than wallowing in the limitations of the now. We go forward as a team with renewed energy and optimism.’

Nick Cutts, Chief Executive

Opportunity: online music-making with OPUS musicians

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Culture Recovery Fund

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We are delighted to announce that OPUS been granted an award of just over £27,000 from the second round of the Government’s #CultureRecoveryFund. We are amongst more than 2,700 recipients to benefit from this latest round of awards.

During the COVID pandemic, our highly-skilled musicians have not been able to visit most of the healthcare settings in which they would normally work. As a team, they have met this challenge with great creativity, building new skills in digital delivery, and generating a new online offer for our healthcare partners and the people in their care. You can see some of this output on our COVID-19 response page here: www.opusmusic.org/COVID-19

This support will enable us to begin our transition back to practice, enhancing our online offer, and expanding it to include our training and advocacy roles.

Frances Watt, Co-Chair says:

“We are grateful for the support offered by the Culture Recovery Fund allowing OPUS Music CIC to inject energy and action again into our partnerships with our healthcare partners and prepare our musicians for the welcome transition back to delivery and practice. Vulnerable children and young people in paediatric settings will benefit from the development of a new online offer from our team of musicians; healthcare staff will benefit from the provision of new training material to support the use of music within their own practice, and musicians wishing to practice within healthcare settings will benefit from the development of an online training course based on OPUS’ experience and approach. This grant enables OPUS Music CIC to get back to building a culture of every-day music making within healthcare settings and providing employment and opportunities to professional musicians at this difficult time.”

Nick Cutts, Chief Executive says:

“We have seen how important music has been to communities throughout the pandemic. We know just how much our in-person offer within healthcare settings has been missed over the past year, and are thankful that, through this fund, we can plan for a future of music-making within healthcare which is even bigger and better than ever before.”

About #HereForCulture
Here for Culture is a movement that unites the public, government and cultural organisations in support of our fantastic cinemas, theatres, music venues, museums, galleries and heritage.
With more and more culture being curated online, there is no better time to support and enjoy all the new and exciting ways culture is available to us.
By being #HereForCulture, we aren’t just supporting the people in the industry, we’re also supporting communities across the country.

Online Resources for Children’s Hospitals

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While, we’re not able to visit hospital wards, we’ve been working away during the COVID lockdowns creating online resources for use in the Children’s Hospitals with which we work. These are specially created videos, echoing some of the approaches we normally use in hospitals to provide the health and wellbeing benefits of music-making.

These resources are being used by healthcare staff and parents as part of patient care at Derbyshire, Leicester, Nottingham and Kings Mill Hospitals.

We’re grateful for the support of Youth Music, Leicester Hospitals CHarity, Nottingham Hospitals Charity, Sherwood Forest Hospitals Charity and Derbyshire Children’s Hospital League of Frieends for their support in creating these resources.

Music and Health

Re-Connecting

Re-Connecting

The morning’s Healthcare Musician practice had joys that ranged from the first smile of a very young baby in the Neonatal Unit to the last song of an older person’s life.

Recruiting OPUS Board Members

Recruiting OPUS Board Members

Please consider joining us in taking the next steps of our exciting journey!

Board member (Voluntary)

Main Responsibilities

Leading discussions

Focusing on key issues

Providing advice and guidance on new initiatives

Evaluation or other issues in which the board member has special expertise

How to apply

OPUS’ return to music-making at Leicester Children’s Hospital

An impactful return to music-making at Leicester Children's Hospital

musiccareconference

Music Care Conference - Presented in Hybrid format from Vancouver, Canada

REGISTER HERE

Marketing and Communications Manager

We're recruiting: Marketing and Communications Manager

Practicing Well Awards

Opportunity: online music-making with OPUS musicians

Request a time slot with us here...

Culture Recovery Fund

We are delighted to announce that OPUS been granted an award of just over £27,000 from the second round of the Government’s #CultureRecoveryFund. We are amongst more than 2,700 recipients to benefit from this latest round of awards.

This support will enable us to begin our transition back to practice, enhancing our online offer, and expanding it to include our training and advocacy roles.

Frances Watt, Co-Chair says:

Nick Cutts, Chief Executive says:

Online Resources for Children’s Hospitals

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