Singing for Lung Health - week 3!

I'm into the third week of running the Singing for Lung Health group at Bitterne Health Centre, working with people who have COPD, Asthma, breathing problems, lung disease and lung cancer. It's a very chilled out way to spend the morning, helping the participants develop good breathing habits and ditching the old habits! Relaxation, posture and breathing excercises led into vocal warm ups and then into songs. I bring with me lots of percussion including an ocean drum, rain stick and shruti-box: all instruments that illustrate very well the art of good breathing. When a participant plays the shruti box they experience the push and pull of the bellows, a 'hands on' feel of the weight and movement of breath. It's the same with the ocean drum and rain stick, experimenting with movement to control the sound. Many of them feel a of deep sense of relaxation when playing these instruments. One woman said she really felt the tension in her body dissappear as she played the shruti box. Playing an instrument, even a percussion instrument is all about relationship with the instrument itself, with ourselves and the world around us. A great way to reconnect, retune and relax.
https://www.blf.org.uk/support-in-your-area/singing-group-in-southampton

New singing groups

It's been a week or so of new groups in new places! Building on the work we do in Chichester with Mind Body Sing, supported by the festival theatre, West Sussex Mind have invited us to run 5 taster community singing sessions at the Grange in Midhurst. We ran our second session today (Monday 13th) and it's going very well. We start the session as people arrive by playing tunes on the uke and violin. It breaks the ice and gets people into the music straight away. Once everyone is seat we get on with singing warm ups, rounds and songs with percussion (and dancing!).
We've also been asked to help start a singing group that is dementia friendly in Petersfield, held at the United Reform church. We met for the first time last Thursday and there must have been about 50 people there! So it looks like the people of Petersfield want a community singing group.
We've also been visiting Spinnaker Ward at St Mary's and Jubilee House in Cosham, once a month, so sing songs and play tunes. Along with the carehomes and day centres we visit, each group is different with a different pace and levels of involvement, but one thing is constant: Live music! It has a tremendous impact on people who are isolated and lonely, in recovery from serious illness and also at the end of life. It is a very joyful, meaningful and special time to spend time singing and making music with others. It connects people across language and speech barriers, those with limited mobility and those who are lost. It brings us out of ourselves and also connects us to who we are. It does more than lift spirits, it helps to heal.
I hope to be able to start the Circle Dance for Dementia group in the Autumn which will be another way to help people reconnect with others and feel they belong.

Lifemusic Portsmouth 2nd July

Join us for another Lifemusic session at Fratton Community centre on Saturday 2nd July 10.30am-12.30pm. £7 advance or £8 on the door. Book your place now!
Come with an open mind! Open to all human beings.
Accessable, creative music workshops promoting well-being and positively strengthening relationships.
Remember: Everyone is musical. There are no wrong notes. Every sound you make carries meaning. Music-making is an act of trust
All percussion, drums & tuned percussion instruments provided but you can bring your own.
Hot drinks, water & homemade cake included.
Contact 02392 811802 or contact@janetayers.org