Together in Sound Autumn 2022

Each term TiS welcomes visiting artists to work with the groups. Previously we have welcomed artists like Jess Gillam, Tabea Debus, Jazz singer-songwriter Joanna Eden, and folk duo Honey & the Bear. In Autumn 2022 we enjoyed working with flautist Carys Gittins. The visiting artists come through connections with Saffron Hall. The participants enjoy listening to and working with visiting artists, and the visiting artists gain valuable experience meeting people living with dementia and working with a music therapist.

Visiting musicians join TiS groups in one session during the term, and then return for the sharing session. The visiting artists play for and with participants, and often participants ask to hear specific pieces - these musicians take requests!

Carys Gittins said:

"Thanks so much for inviting me to join. I had a really amazing time and it felt so special to return the second time [to the sharing event] feeling like I knew the participants already. I think Together in Sound is such an important project and I feel so pleased to have been a part of it."

We invited a choir from a local primary school to attend our sharing session. They sang a song called “Power in me” about believing in yourself which they chose for the event specifically. They also joined in with music making, creating a cacophony of shakers!

TiS project coordinator, Katie, visited the children in school prior to the sharing session to deliver a Dementia Friends Information session (an Alzheimers Society initiative), to introduce Together in Sound, and a song participants had chosen to share with the children in the sharing session, "Come Away In" by Karine Polwart. Listen to "Come Away In" via the video.

Through our feedback questionnaire the children told us that they all understood more about dementia from taking part in Together in Sound. They all felt more confident about interacting with people living with dementia, and they all enjoyed meeting people “who are different to ourselves” and interacting with people much older than them.

Participating teachers told us that the experience of taking part in Together in Sound was not something they could ever replicate in-school and they were grateful to have been given the opportunity, and proud of their pupils response and behaviours.

"[Together in Sound] makes an important impact on my life, sharing with others and the music itself is a tonic, along with the interaction with others in a non-judgemental way."

- participant living with dementia

"My confidence has improved and I feel I can contribute at every session in some way"

- participant living with dementia

I at first thought that bringing Joseph along was solely for his benefit. How wrong I was! This is something we can both share and enjoy. I now feel so much more positive with the support of our new friends. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

- participant who attends with her husband who is living with dementia
(name has been changed to protect participants privacy)

Dementia can be very isolating both for the relative and the carer. …It's amazing to see the change in people over the ten weeks of the programme.

People come out of their quiet world, enjoy the spontaneous singing of sometimes tunes that they remember from long ago, or the challenge of singing a new one.

Playing instruments to illustrate a story, maybe flying in an aeroplane, sailing on a boat or a walk in the woods, you never know what is going to happen, but the effect is extraordinary.

A cup of tea or coffee and biscuits at the beginning of the programme has set up a feeling of togetherness and new friendships. There is plenty of chatter and fun. We all look forward to our Friday mornings to be with the extraordinary team and the volunteers from Saffron Hall who take us through this extremely special uplifting experience.”

- participant who attends with their mum who is living with dementia

"Over the course of block, I’ve seen Mum go from being socially anxious to initiating interactions with some members of the group (She continues not to enjoy going out with unfamiliar people and is largely silent in big groups outside TiS).

Her short term memory for new information is now only a few minutes; however, she can remember the hello and goodbye songs. I was staggered when she quite spontaneously said ‘I like coming here’ (this was week 3).

She has the confidence to speak up in the group and make suggestions. I feel like for an hour and a half a week, I get a little bit of my Mum back that I thought was lost."

- participant who attends with their mum who is living with dementia