Search
Close this search box.

Music and Health

Music in Healthcare Settings Training for Musicians – applications now closed – course full.

reflective moment 1THIS COURSE HAS NOW BEEN FILLED.

If you are interested in attending our training in the future, please email us at training@opusmusic.org and we will contact you when we launch our next programme.

 

 

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.’

Symposium: Sustaining Professional Music in Healthcare Settings Practice

10am – 4pm, Monday 25th November 2013 The Education Centre, Royal Derby Hospital, Derby, UK

conference-room2LGOPUS Music CIC, in association with Air Arts to Aid Wellbeing and the Royal Derby Hospital presents a one-day symposium to share, discuss and debate on the topic of Sustaining Professional Music in Healthcare Settings Practice.

Bringing together key stakeholders including musicians, healthcare professionals, academics and other partners involved in the development of music (and arts) in healthcare settings practice from across the UK and beyond, this symposium will support the generation and sharing of increased understanding, knowledge and ideas required to sustain this practice.

This symposium forms part of a wider programme of activity delivered by OPUS Music CIC to advocate for and disseminate on this practice and is funded by Youth Music, Derby Hospital Charity, Nottinghamshire County Council, Leicester City Council and Nottingham Hospitals Charity with additional support from all partner hospitals, Derbyshire City and County Music Partnership and Air Arts to Aid Wellbeing.

The symposium will be of interest if you are:

• Interested in finding out about music in healthcare settings practice locally, regionally, nationally and internationally
• Keen to explore how to develop and/or sustain music in healthcare practice within your own setting/region
• Looking to share your own ideas, practice or expertise in the area of music in healthcare settings
• Wanting to network with a range of arts and health professionals

The symposium is open to all with an interest in this practice (subject to capacity).
A charge of £10 per delegate will be made towards the costs of running the symposium.

For more information, please contact Nick Cutts, Director, OPUS Music CIC

nick@opusmusic.org
01773 861630 / 07786 157515
facebook.com/opusmusic.org
twitter.com/music_health

Symposium tickets are available at: opusmusic.eventbrite.co.uk

Seeing Things Through

Tuesday 9th July saw Richard Kensington and Sarah Matthews of Opus, out on the sunny roof in the play area of a Children’s Hospital. There were many patients enjoying the sunshine with parents and visitors and staff. We met one little girl dancing around with a tennis racket in a pretty white dress. We played for her, and others present, and allowed time for everyone to get accustomed to the music and instruments in that space.

Wind the Bobbin Up seemed appropriate, with voice and actions and instruments. We sang together for a while, and other patients joined in and began exploring the musical instruments in our box. The Mother of the little girl said that it had been a great way to kill time and relax a bit whilst waiting for her operation. I checked which ward they were going back to, thinking to myself that it might be possible to follow through this little girl’s day, and help her later. They were based in a ward that we had not visited yet.

After spending quite a while longer out on the roof, singing and playing to patients in the ball pool, up the stairs and down the slide, on the bikes, and other activities, we settled in the shaded area with one young man who was very interested in exploring the xylophone with patterns and a variety of tonal combinations.

When he had finished, we wandered back into the ward, and found the little girl from the roof ready in her operation gown, crying in her Mummy’s arms whilst waiting to go down to surgery. We began with Twinkle Twinkle and gained her attention again. She stopped crying and listened more calmly. Dad told us she really liked Row Row Row Your Boat, and made a few suggestions for variations to the words, which we were happy to incorporate. Then it was time to get into bed and go down the corridor to surgery. I checked with Mum that she was happy for us to stay with them and follow them down the corridor to the lift area. Mum was very keen for us to support as she commented she was amazed at the effect of the music on her daughter, and herself also.

The staff arrived and it was time to process down to the lifts. Rich and I played The Grand Old Duke Of York and sang as we followed the family out of the bay and through the ward and across to the lift area. The little girl was listening and stayed calm. We left them as the lift door closed, and Mum was saying she could not believe how the music had helped in making the while process go more smoothly and with less stress.

Rich and I went about our business for lunchtime and the early part of the afternoon. Finally we worked our way back to the bay where we found the little girl had returned from her operation and was calmly coming round from the anaesthetic and having a drink. We were able to choose gentle pieces to ease her back to reality in a relaxed way.

When I gave Mum and Dad our business card and asked if they would like to comment on how the music had affected their day, they said they definitely would and it had made a huge difference!

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

Harry’s blog

It’s always a great pleasure to make music with Harry. Here’s one of the many benefits we see from music-making with hospitalised patients, from the parent’s perspective…
Harry’s Blog

Busy week of music making

We are busily engaged as usual this week with music-making taking place at Nottingham, Derby, Sheffield and Kings Mill hospitals along with the ‘Taking the Lead’ project currently taking place in Staveley working with students from Springwell Community College. Great to make so many lives richer through music making.

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