Community Music Practice: Working with People Living with Dementia

Community Music is a term used to describe an approach to music that is inclusive and participatory. This can operate both therapeutically and educationally, but as a field has its own rich history and culture. This course focuses on music-making with people living with dementia. This rapidly-growing and exciting area of the field focuses on how music can enable those living with dementia to connect and create, combating social isolation, and helping maintain a sense of agency and identity. Awareness of the benefits of music for people living with dementia has grown rapidly in recent years, with research and anecdotal evidence demonstrating that active participation in music has a very positive effect on engagement and wellbeing. Work in this field can take place in residential settings such as care homes, in the community, and in healthcare settings. Music-making in these settings can include:. familiar repertoire – helpful for reminiscence and creating a sense of safety. improvisation – creating in the moment together, as a means of communication as well as promoting the equality of everyone involved . musical activities such as singing rounds. writing songs as a group . exploring sounds and listening This is a rewarding area of work, contributing to a culture where people can develop or rekindle musical skills, interests, and connections – even if for a short, but illuminating time. This work requires a sensitive, flexible, and reflective approach, which this workshop will introduce you to. This course is ideal for you if you are:. a musician who would like to develop your skills in this field. a professional or family carer who would like to develop this skillset . a music facilitator already practising in this or a related field. a professional in a related field, eg Occupational Therapist, Psychologist. interested in learning more about how interactive music-making benefits