Singing together - whether formally or informally, with live musicians or to pre-recorded music - is something we can all do and enjoy
Why singing in a group is an effective part of music care
Our Music Can Activity Guide for ‘Singing’ sets out some of the benefits of singing, and the benefits multiply when we sing together
- ‘Happy chemicals’ are released when we sing, helping to reduce stress and anxiety. Coupling this with the shared experience of being in a group can help to reassure, comfort and create a sense of togetherness
- Singing together helps us to feel part of a community. Singing in a group helps to reduce isolation and can remove any sense of pressure around performing. Singing with others allows you to benefit from their energy, feeling upbeat and part of something bigger. Whether with friends, or people you haven’t met before, it is an opportunity to connect with others and build friendships, boosting self esteem
- Singing together can provide an outlet for processing emotions and feelings without having to express them verbally. The song can be a channel through which your emotions feel validated, or help you to identify and name what you are feeling
- Singing is fun! The meaningful, creative process of singing with others creates a sense of purpose and intention. Being part of a regular singing group or choir can provide the motivation to remain active, connected and curious in the world around us. Being able to sing together can be a truly joyful experience, improving quality of life for all
Image from Intergenerational Music Making
How to guide
Before we start, you are...
"How to" for People Living With Dementia:
1. If you already sing with a group or a choir
- Are there any adjustments the leader can make to the sessions that would help your experience? This could be speaking more slowly when giving directions, printing out lyrics or sheet music in a larger font, or partnering you with a buddy to support you during the rehearsals
- If it no longer feels possible to attend your current group, is there a more dementia focused group you could be a part of? If attending in person is no longer an option, you may like to consider joining an online singing group. Visit our Music Can Directory to find other groups in your area and available online
2. Joining a singing group
- Use our Music Can Directory to help you find a group in your local area
- Talk to a family member or carer about support with attending sessions either in person or online
- If possible, speak to the singing leader ahead of joining a session so you have a sense of how the group works, what to expect and so that you can explain what support would be helpful for you
- If you’re not familiar with the music the group rehearses, try and listen to some of it before your first session so you can feel more at ease when joining the group for the first time
- If you have a playlist, add the songs the group rehearses to it so you can sing along between rehearsals
- Remember, singing with others is meant to be fun. If it is no longer enjoyable for you, there are other ways to share music with people. Have a look at our activities page for other ways to enjoy music, such as playlists and music therapy
1. If the person you are caring for already sings with a group
- Are there any adjustments the leader can make to the sessions or rehearsals that would support the individual to have a more enjoyable experience? This could be speaking more slowing when giving directions, printing out lyrics or sheet music in a larger font, or partnering them with a buddy to support them during the rehearsals
- If it no longer feels possible to attend the current group, is there a more dementia focused group that the individual could be a part of? If attending in person is no longer an option, they may like to consider joining an online singing group. Visit our Music Can Directory to find other groups in your area and available online
- Is being part of the choir or singing group something you can do with the person you care for? Could this be something musical that you do together?
2. If the person you care for would like to join a singing group
- Use our Music Can Directory to help you find a group in your local area
- Talk to the individual about how you can support them with attending sessions either in person or online
- If possible, with the person you are caring for, speak with the singing leader ahead of joining a session so you have a sense of how the group works, what to expect and you can explain what support would be helpful
- If the person attending the group is not familiar with the music the group rehearses, try and listen to some of it before the first session so they can feel more at ease when joining the group for the first time
- If they have a playlist, add the songs the group rehearses to it so you can sing along together between rehearsals
- Remember, singing with others is meant to be fun. If it is no longer enjoyable for the individual, there are other ways to share music with people. Have a look at our Music Can Activities page for other ways to enjoy music, such as listening to playlists and participating in formal music therapy
Think about whether the group is something you would like to join too. Many groups and services, such as Mindsong and Music 4 Memory are set up to support both the person living with dementia and their family member or carer
Setting up the group
1.Speak to people within your network to find out what they need and value
- This could be anything from a a group that meets for social support but has singing at its heart to a formal choir working towards performances
- Consider whether your group is only for people living with dementia or if it includes carers
2. Think about who you need to start
- Can you work with someone from a dementia network to spread the word and help you make it dementia-friendly? This may be somebody from a local community group or the host of a dementia café. They may even manage the day-to-day running of the group if you aren’t going to take on this role alongside running the sessions
3. Consider what events are already happening in the community
- Perhaps you can join up with a day service, dementia cafe, or existing singing group
- If you want to set up a separate event, ensure that the timing doesn’t clash with existing dementia-friendly events and optimise for when people will be able to attend
4. Where will your event be located?
- It helps if the venue is familiar to those attending such as a place of worship, community centre, arts venue, cafe or pub
- Accessibility must be a consideration as attendees may need wheelchair access and ample parking
- Other considerations may include: a kitchen, if serving refreshments; easily accessible bathroom facilities; and being on a bus route
Considering logistics of the group
1. Teaming up with other people in the community is a great way of supporting individuals to stay connected in their local area
- This could be businesses - a taxi service that could offer discounted rates, or a local cafe who could donate refreshments for people socialising after singing. It could be local volunteers - can people help with admin and promotion through local services and social media?
- It could also be with local dementia services - could they drop into your sessions regularly to ensure their effectiveness whilst providing advice, answering questions and connecting people to other services?
2. What support may people need to attend the group?
- Try and find out as much as you can about your group members to ensure that you’re able to provide a personalised service. Everything from whether they have a hearing impairment to what songs do people dislike
- Getting to know your group will ensure that you’re making informed choices about your approach musically, socially and practically – right down to how long the group meets and how often
Keeping the group running
1. Talk with members of the group about what music they’d like to sing - music is more impactful when it has been personalised
- Share suggestions about genres and encourage members to think about a song they could share or teach to the group - think about how you can reflect people’s cultures and identities through song choices
- You could theme music each month, or sing at least one familiar song each session to provide structure
- Think about how you can arrange the music to make it accessible for everyone. Will you provide people with song sheets and written music or give them a link to a playlist so they can sing in between sessions? Being flexible in your musical approach is really important so that you remain responsive to people’s ever-changing needs as their dementia develops
- Remember to keep it playful! This is all about helping people live well with dementia and enriching their experience through being together in music
2. Funding - starting local is often a good option in the first instance
- Consider approaching businesses who are looking to support local initiatives in their community. They may sponsor room hire and provide refreshments or support in kind
- Local dementia focused services and charities will be able to advise on funding matters such as how and when to apply. You may also find sites online which signpost to local funding options
- Think about speaking to local link workers and GPs about what support they can provide, and if the local NHS trust can signpost to funding options. Take a look at our Music Can Guide on ‘Social Prescribing’ for more information
