Primarily the people who benefit are the residents and day centre clients with dementia in the residential homes and day centres throughout South Yorkshire. This dementia ranges in severity from people who are in the very early stages of the disease (not yet diagnosed) who appear to have most of their faculties, apart from an obvious memory impairment, to full blown sufferers who are unable to walk, talk, feed themselves or at times even interact in any way at all. In addition the carers are also benefiting considerably from their exposure to the interactive musical sessions. They are beginning to show definite signs of understanding and appreciation of the therapeutic nature of music and it is hoped that, if we can build on these achievements with the carers it will in turn have a very positive effect on the people with dementia themselves. Some carers for example are even adopting techniques used by the musicians in their work with residents which bears out our claim that the sessions give added value to the staff members’ own training and personal development. In support of this training courses for carers who work in the residential homes visited by Lost Chord are now beginning to prove very effective in highlighting the value of musical intervention. Care workers, from being indifferent and none committal are now showing definite signs of approval and support. Musicians have displayed a dramatic change in their approach both to their audience and to their musical sessions with the dementia sufferers. They have been encouraged to become more physically involved – a tactile approach to dementia sufferers has proved extremely successful : kneeling down and singing or playing to individuals, stroking their hands and engaging eye contact have elicited amazing responses. The benefits to musicians are endless. It opens up a whole new world of appreciation on a level which they would not normally encounter. It stimulates their sensitivity towards the needs of dementia sufferers and enables them to develop a new capacity to heighten the sufferers’ individual response to music. In addition to organising concerts for dementia sufferers in the white community preparations are taking place to co-opt Black and Asian musicians onto the scheme. This would mean that a regular monthly concert could be organised in the Black and Asian day centre at Park Lea in Rotherham by the end of 2005. Letter from Letter from Nightingale House:   Dear Helena   In view of the fact that we are approaching the conclusion of the first year of our exciting programme of music with Lost Chord, I felt that I would like to take the opportunity to express my sincere thanks to all of your team for the way that they have engaged their skills in communication and music in reaching out to our residents.   I would also like to reiterate my sincere appreciation to all of your sponsors who make the programme so accessible financially.   I was really delighted when you approached us to be part of the London pilot, and would like to highlight some of the positive things that have happened.   Nightingale was recently selected by NIACE to receive an award for its provision of an exciting activity programme for its 220 residents.   Music has always been an important tool of engagement to people of all levels of cognitive function, but there is clear evidence to demonstrate how effectively it enriches the lives of people with dementia.   In recent years we have explored the development of music through a specific programme of improvisational music therapy which was run by an organisation called “Music for Life” as well as the added support from Live Music Now! and the Council for Music Hospitals as well as individual music therapy.  Although all of these other projects have had a certain amount of success I feel that the type of interaction that is provided by “Lost Chord” has a degree of accessibility to people living with dementia that somehow has superseded anything else I have experienced.   There is clear evidence to demonstrate that the musicians have not only an extremely high standard of expertise, but they seem to have developed a real understanding of an elderly client group and know how to communicate in a way which embraces peoples dignity by allowing them to discover the power of healing through music.   It has been wonderful to share in moments when the music has facilitated a freedom to dance, or whether there is a moment of reminiscence and reflection where people’s life experience is validated through the choice of programme.   I also really appreciate the contribution you make personally in your role as Chief Executive, as it really helps to enhance the relationship of understanding the needs of our particular centre and builds up positive relationship which allows us to work in collaboration to develop the programme further.   I wish you and your team well in all your endeavours to touch the heartbeat of peoples well being through beautiful music.       Letter from a wife of a client at Warde Aldam:   'My husband has severe dementia and cannot recall that he was once a gifted musician.  Only on the visits of Lost Chord is there an intelligent glimmer in his eyes and he may gently conduct a few bars.  Occasionally the music prompts him to ask me to dance.  Without doubt, Lost Chord provide the best two hours of his month.  Each time I visit, a lady resident asks me if the music is coming.  She was a professional ice dancer, and for two hours each month she dances non-stop, recalling her youth.  The children of Inglebrook hope to have another concert soon, and take up a collection for you.  Although the amount may be small we know every penny is needed'. is needed