The healing sound of music

TWO UK hospitals are to benefit from an MMU initiative to bring the healing power of music onto the wards.

The Royal Liverpool University Children’s Hospital Alder Hey and Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester will welcome musicians in residence who aim to raise the spirits of both patients and staff.

From 22-24 November seven musicians - two guitarists, two saxophonists, a clarinettist, bassoonist and cellist – will be based at Alder Hey, and in February will visit Wythenshawe Hospital for a week.

Philharmonic and Camerata

Georgina Baird-Smith, of the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra is joined by Ros Hawley, musician-in-residence at the Royal School for the Deaf and Communication Disorders and Laurence Perkins from the Manchester Camerata. There are also four French musicians from the group Musique et Sante famous in France for their work in the Paris Hospitals.

Organiser Peter Senior, MBE, director of the national Arts for Health project at MMU and an early pioneer of art as a aid to health, said the hospital visits would show how it is possible to affect health and recovery through music.

He said: “This project is inspired by the power of music to engage, stimulate, regenerate and heal. Music raises the spirit and has been known to help people out of coma because our ears never close.”

Famous backers

Arts for Health at MMU is part funded by the Arts Council for England and supported by Melvin Bragg and artist Sam Taylor-Wood.

The European Music Initiative is a partnership between Arts for Health at MMU, Waterford Healing Arts Trust (Ireland) and Musique et Santé and recently won funding from the European Commission to create six residencies for musicians to work in English, French and Irish hospitals. The project will be documented by film commentary and will culminate in an international seminar and publication.

Dr Jane Ratcliffe, Chair of Alder Hey Arts, said: “We look forward to welcoming the musicians and enjoying this wonderful opportunity for our patients and staff.”

Ends

Notes:

The UK contribution to the project will be led by Arts for Health and Manchester Metropolitan University, on behalf of a consortium which includes the Royal Northern College of Music, Alder Hey Hospital, South Manchester University Hospital NHS Trust and LIME. Project associates will include Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Hallé Orchestra, Manchester Camerata and Live Music Now North West.

Waterford Healing Arts Trust
Established in 1990 and based in Waterford Regional Hospital, WHAT is Ireland’s leading arts and health organisation. It aims to explore the role of the arts in the promotion of healing and well-being through a multi-disciplinary programme of arts activity, for example : ‘Healing Sounds’. The performances take place throughout the year with a vast range of instrumentalists and singers. Presenting quality performances by musicians with the ability to communicate easily with their audience, the programme aims to lift the spirits of patients, staff and visitors at the hospital.

ARTS for HEALTH (Manchester Metropolitan University’s Faculty of Art and Design)
An International Centre offering advice and consultancy for creative planning, funding and commissioning of arts and cultural projects in the healthcare services. Its work is to develop innovative arts programmes and provide integrated art and design solutions for healthcare environments.

Musique et Santé (Paris)
A non-profit organisation which works for the development of music in hospitals with particular emphasis on engaging with people with disabilities.

For further information contact Peter Senior, Arts for Health, Manchester Metropolitan University 0161 247 1091, d.prescott@mmu.ac.uk or Suzanne Hughes, Communications Manager, Alder Hey Hospital on 0151 252 5967.