Working With the Community, In the Community
Over the past year I have been working as a music facilitator visiting nursing homes and day centres in Kent.
I recently moved to Newcastle to work towards a Masters in Music and Education.
Music Therapy will play a key role in my future career as I become more involved in music facilitation within the community.
I struggled through primary school finding it hard to concentrate and keep up with my peers; this struggle was partly due to my suffering with dyslexia. It wasn’t until I found music through playing the accordion that I felt a sense achievement.Slowly, things became clearer and more manageable in my head as music formed my escape and my way of learning.
At the Age of 6 I entered my first competition; which followed with national and international competitions and concerts over a 12 year span.
As I matured, I mastered my second instrument, the cello; whose melancholy, velvet tones and versatility had always appealed to me.
I went through GCSE, A level music and was given a scholarship to attend university and graduated with a BMus degree at Canterbury Christchurch. I thrived on the atmosphere, and working along side talented, likeminded musicians.
I studied Classical Accordion with Prof Owen Murray at the Royal Academy of London. The accordion is an up and coming instrument. It is possible to play in accordion competitions, as a soloist or as part of a group.
I have received a number of scholarships from different beneficiaries and I have enjoyed spending this money on trips abroad to have master classes with professors of the classical accordion. I especially enjoyed my time in Austria’s international summer school meeting and playing with masters.
I was awarded a full bursary to attend the Dartington international summer school where I was able to take part in a wide range of master classes ranging from tango, Jazz, Accordion, Cello, percussion, orchestral and Chamber work shops.
After university I went on a weeks training course called Colour Strings, a method of teaching pre-school children. It was an eye opening course which introduced unconscious learning in children under the age of 4. The idea is that children can learn music before using an instrument as an aid. Classes can last up to an hour as it takes the children on a story.
All instructions are sung by the teacher and children reply in song. Songs are kept simple, based on the pentatonic scale and Do Ray Me is used rather then note names. Hand signals are introduced to demonstrate pitch, this helps children sing internally, being able to use the hand signs as a way of keeping in tune.
I have worked in a residential home for people with severe head injuries. Residents found music classes stimulating, showing visible signs such as smiles and voluntary hand and feet movements.
Music facilitation in elderly care works with the same group of residents so that I can observe any changes in behaviour. When working as a facilitator in a Nursing home in Canterbury, Kent, I used my instruments to get closer to elderly residents many of whom had degenerative diseases such as dementia.
I was part of a small group of people taking time once a week to bring music into their lives. I enjoyed being able to improvise over other instrumentalists. The accordion was perfect for this environment as it is portable and it’s a keyboard instrument, if necessary able to play solo.
As children the residents would have sung in school assembly, church hymns as well as their favourite pop icon’s hit tracks of the time. Very few of these elderly people are subjected to any form of music, live or otherwise. They voluntarily and religiously attended our sessions where the songs provoked memories; and I loved to hear story’s about there younger years. Classes created an opportunity to socialise with peers in a safe environment.
Residents with dementia were more then able to remember all the words and melodies; this brought on feelings associated with a sense of security in a world that no longer looks how it once did.
Weekly records take note of positive and negative feedback. This feedback incorporates appropriate material for the following session ensuring each resident is stimulated. Residents feel at ease in the social environment, able to engage in an array of musical experiences.
Although the voice is the main instrument in sessions, other percussive instruments are provided. Percussion is a great tool for increasing mobility and co-ordination, helping residents explore the sense of pulse. A typical session starts with vocal warm ups and then moves on to a mixture of songs, normally based around a theme. A range of material is used to cater to all tastes; pre recorded music is used to provoke discussion and encourage wider listening. However, I rely mainly on my own instrumental playing as I believe live performance is more effective than pre recorded material.
I play the classical accordion, cello, piano, guitar and other instruments. Having the ability to play by ear gives me the flexibility and versatility I need to be able to fit around residents needs. The main aim is to encourage, stimulation, interaction, and a sense of well being and social activity.
I am conscientious and dependable in my work. I am a passionate, caring, enthusiastic, dedicated and mature character with a good sense of humour. If I can use my talent in a positive way to help others then this is a massive bonus.
I am a really enthusiastic teacher with experience teaching all ages and abilities. I have taught preschool children, dementia care and disabled children with severe learning difficulties.
Music is my passion and I want to bring awareness of its health and spiritual benefits to individuals; therefore I will continue to teach the accordion to adults and children
I am really enthused by encouraging more young players and visit schools to give an assembly about the accordion and its music. This is then followed up with a series of half hour lessons paid for by the parent or guardian. Advice is given about acquiring the correct instrument. I love working with all age groups especially children, they are generally not afraid to be expressive and outgoing.
I am currently composing music for therapy and group mentoring sessions; this involves musical understanding and appreciation of its uplifting qualities. Therapy sessions incorporate Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) with music in order to set the mood, increase self esteem and encourage a sense of engagement.
I am involved in the development of a community radio station in the south region of Gateshead to encourage a sense of community cohesion. Tenants and residents are able to contribute to the radio format with music as the lynchpin to uniting individuals towards a common goal
I am looking forward to seeing what the future holds for me. I have many ideals to fulfil and would love to play an accordion concerto