Help residents to keep learning new songs

• Video Description

  This video was filmed at Eden Court, Battersea, London (Cinnamon Group).

  It highlights the possibility of learning new things at every stage of the dementia journey, including the writing of new songs. Zoe Wren, a music practitioner from Live Music Now, uses a number of strategies to create a new song using ideas generated by the residents, including creating new words to given melodies, and improvising new tunes to predetermined words. They each make a contribution to the end result, which is satisfying for all concerned.

• Strategies

  • Try to introduce at least one new song every week

  • Invite musicians to support residents to create new songs, with lyrics relevant to their (past) lives

  • Record the songs for future reference and enjoyment so residents can listen to them whenever they wish

  • Share the songs with family and friends (Online where necessary)