If your organisation works with people with dementia or their carers, this programme may be of interest to you?
Manchester Camerata was established in 1972 and has since grown to become one of the UK’s leading chamber orchestras. With a vision to ‘redefine what an orchestra can do’, Manchester Camerata is famous for innovation, collaborating with a range of artists and performing in unusual venues. This vision extends to the Camerata in the Community programme, which uses music as a tool to improve people’s lives.
Manchester Camerata’s Music in Mind programme began in 2012 and is delivered by musicians from the orchestra alongside a music therapist. Projects take place in care settings and community centres across Greater Manchester, and are funded by grants from charitable trusts, NHS clinical commissioning groups and local authorities. Workshop sessions are designed to use improvisation to give people with dementia the chance to communicate and interact with others through musical expression. Participants are encouraged to make their own creative decisions by choosing which instruments to play, when and how to play them, and how their music fits in with the rest of the group. The musicians work closely with participants to identify those activities that elicit the most positive responses and develop these, gradually drawing ideas from the participants to incorporate into the improvisations. People with dementia can often be frustrated by their illness and this programme therefore focuses on increasing their personal dignity and empowerment, therefore helping to improve quality of life.
To find out more about the project, click here. To arrange to visit the project or attend an event contact Lucy Geddes, Head of Camerata in the Community, via lgeddes@manchestercamerata.com
