William Cutting describes how singing together revives the brain
People who have worked and lived with dementia have long known that ‘Music is Magic’. There appear to be separate mem-ory pathways for melodies and songs to bypass serious brain-blocks.
Our community choir regularly visits and is welcomed at the local retirement homes. Before the singing, choir members greet and chat with the residents. Trying to make contact with one elderly man was difficult; indeed despite friendly observations no visible response could be elicited. However, during the community singing part of the programme the old man was obviously singing along with enthusiasm and enjoyment. Participating in songs he knew from memory stimulated remarkable vitality and gave him obvious pleasure. After the session he was again mute!
Our Dementia Choir
The dramatic effect of music and singing on people with dementia was illustrated earlier this year by two BBC TV programmes, Our Dementia Choir. It was hosted by Vicky McClure, the lively actress of the gritty police drama Line of Duty. Her grandmother had died of dementia and she recognised the revitalising effect of familiar music during the advancing stages of the disease. She wanted to share this experience.
In her home town of Nottingham she sought out about 30 people with dementia to sing together. Many, but not all, were elderly, most were isolated and withdrawn due to the condition, and some were virtually mute. McClure individually invited them to meet others with a similar condition and then sing together in a simple choir. Each person received encouragement, and a few also had some simple coaching.
The effect was amazing, both for those with dementia and their carers. Many who had been completely apathetic and passive for years were revitalised. Some who hardly ever spoke started to sing. Others who had shown no emotion started to smile and enjoy company. A few who had been musicians rediscovered lost talents and even sang solo parts. To see the choir as a group, performing together and obviously enjoying it, was remarkable and heart-warming. Singing together gave confidence and joy. The emotional comfort lasted long after the singing stopped.
Implications and going to scale.
The Alzheimer’s Society estimates that there are already 850,000 people with dementia in the UK. There is no medication cure on the horizon and resources for personal care are limited.
Music therapy is known to help and improve life for those with dementia and their carers. The social benefit of meeting up in a group enhances the value of singing together. Our Dementia Choir confirmed the double value of such a strategy and demonstrated that a whole group of people can benefit together. This is a more economical and feasible way of helping larger numbers of those with dementia.
To reach the numbers of people affected by dementia a major campaign is necessary. It requires an alliance of big agencies; Alzheimer’s Society and AgeUK, along with local resources. Every sort of choir in the land could be mobilised: choral societies; music and glee clubs; church and gospel choirs; school and community choirs.
Every group could have a dementia choir section or session. For such a campaign, dynamic local leadership is needed. This may be found in people like McClure whose relatives have had dementia. There is now a mandate to recruit leaders and start ‘choir therapy’ in many communities across the land.
A singspiration group.
Perhaps choir is not quite the right word. It implies a degree of musicality that is not necessary for the purpose and so a singspiration group may be more appropriate.
The church is well placed to play a valuable role. Music is at the heart of worship in most local churches and many congregations have capable musicians and active choirs. Compassion and care for the vulnerable, like those with dementia, is central to the Christian message. A church hall can be a suitable venue for a singspiration group.
Most older people, with or without dementia, have stored in their brains a significant file of songs, both secular and spiritual, with words and music. These include folksongs, hymns and melodies from shows, films, school assemblies and Sunday school in their earlier years. These songs can often be retrieved and sung long after a person has stopped normal talking.
Many songs have deep emotional meaning. They frequently elicit smiles and feelings of warmth and wellbeing that cannot be achieved in any other way.
As churches strive to be dementia-friendly, a small regular singspiration group can be both a great outreach and a valuable service to many families and the community. Here is a real need and a great opportunity.
