| • |
Recently I had a telephone
call from a Home on the scheme. The activities co-ordinator
felt she had to ring to tell me that having been on the scheme
for 4 years they had had some wonderful concerts but they
had just had the best concert ever. She went on to say that
one gentleman who hadn’t spoken for 3 years had just
joined in singing the words to a familiar song. She was ecstatic! |
| • |
Barry is in a very severe unit in Rotherham
and when I visited during a recent concert he was slumped
in a bed chair, eyes shut with his head on one side showing
no response. Having ignored him for the first half of the
concert my conscience moved me to go over and I knelt down
in front of him, held his hand and sang along with the Soprano.
He very gradually opened his eyes, lifted his head and even
smiled at me. He tapped his hand at the side of the chair
to the beat of the music and eventually started clapping.
By the end of the concert he was actually attempting a conversation
with me. Had I not gone over he might have remained slumped
in his bed chair with no response! What is more the following
month there was Barry sat lively and smiling with a carer
at his side and getting involved with the music as much as
he could. “Barry loves his music” the carer said.
I knew Barry loved his music but what was more important was
that she now knew he did! |
| • |
At the beginning of the concert Roy
remained slumped in his chair with no response until Mary,
the Volunteer decided to attempt to get him involved. We were
all absolutely astounded when she managed to get him to his
feet and dancing enthusiastically to the beat of the music.
He has no verbal communication or facial expression but his
rhythmic movement indicated to all of us how much he was enjoying
the session. The carers were shocked to see him get so involved
and hopefully they now know what sort of music engenders this
sort of response. He even managed to wink and blow me a kiss!! |
| • |
Yet another phone call today from a
Sheffield home. They told me that one of the residents, who
had spent the last three years in her room only venturing
out when there was no one around, attended the concert for
the first time. Even though she was persuaded to come along
everyone thought that she would turn tail and go back to her
room as soon as she saw the room full of people. However she
stayed and played percussion along with everyone else. She
even asked to be included next time! |
| • |
At a recent concert performed by musicians
playing the Harp and Flute one gentleman who was badly affected
by Alzheimer’s, was accompanied by his wife as a visitor.
She told the volunteer that he had been Head of Music and
had conducted Male Voice Choirs all his life. The musicians
made a huge fuss of him and as the music went on he started
to conduct it quietly to himself. Eventually as the volunteer
sang to him they both ended up conducting each other. Afterwards
his wife was quite emotional and said that it was the most
responsive she had seen him in the last six months. |
