Live music now is a uk based charity which performs in care homes with the aim boost mood and morel of residents and staff. This ideolagy is one i support because many people in the care home sector arnet able to go see live music so bringing it to them in an intractive, comphatable and farmilar invirement brings joy to alot of people. This charitys claims are backed by many scientific facts including “evidence that music-based therapy may benefit people living with dementia, particularly by improving symptoms of depression.” This is not to say that our performance is therapy however, it does link in how live music can support mood outcomes.
This charity started in 1977 by Sir Yehudi Menuhin and Sir Ian Stoutzker to ‘train/support young musicians and bring high-quality live music to those with least access.’ This cause links with my person aim of this project which is to spread the joy of music to audiances that otherwise may have lost there spark.
As a class we plan to follow some of the same ideaolagy as the charity promotes social change, and supports the ideolqagy that music should be a human right because its one of the few things that universaly brings us all together.
We need to think about farmiliar songs with the age demographic where performing to. Assuming that the median age is 86 years acording to sources, we need to find music that was popular in the 60s, 70s and 80s. We also think its imporrant to play some new songs aswell since we arnet only perfoming to care home residents.
When doing our care home gig i will prioritise conection with the audiance, this is the most important part of comunity audiance, i see it as where not there as performers, where there to conect a room full of very different people and we encourage comunal enjoyment through movement and singing along. We can do this by talking inbetween songs, making coversation with them, casual calm movement, relaxing tones from all instrements.
Reference list
Burns , A. (2018). NHS England» Music and dementia: a powerful connector. [online] www.england.nhs.uk. Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/blog/music-and-dementia-a-powerful-connector musics connection to mental wellbeing, focusing on dementia.
Cochrane.org. (2025). Music-based Therapy May Improve Depressive Symptoms in People with Dementia | Cochrane. [online] Available at: https://www.cochrane.org/about-us/news/music-based-therapy-may-improve-depressive-symptoms-people-dementia.
Dementia UK. (2025). Music and dementia. [online] Available at: https://www.dementiauk.org/information-and-support/living-with-dementia/music-and-dementia [Accessed 16 Dec. 2025]. music therapy and connection with dimentia .
Live Music Now. (2021). Live Music in Care – Live Music Now. [online] Available at: https://www.livemusicnow.org.uk/working-with-older-people [Accessed 16 Dec. 2025].
Office for National Statistics (2023). Older People Living in Care Homes in 2021 and Changes since 2011 – Office for National Statistics. [online] www.ons.gov.uk. Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/ageing/articles/olderpeoplelivingincarehomesin2021andchangessince2011/2023-10-09 [Accessed 16 Dec. 2025]. average age of care home residents .