Music Helps

Take a mindful moment with us! We’re so delighted to close out our second season of the Music Helps podcast with today’s special guest, none other than award-winning pianist, and mindfulness teacher, Eliza McCarthy. An extraordinary musician who specialises in performing new and experimental music, Eliza also teaches ‘Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction for Performing Artists’ at Guildhall School and University of Birmingham, and shares her thoughts with us on the topic of music and wellbeing. If you’re interested in learning more about mindfulness, check out Eliza’s recommendations; Jon Kabat-Zinn and Tara Brach… Eliza also picked some cracking musical choices, so why not check out ‘Raw Data Field’ by Everything Everything, Deja Vu by Beyonce & Jay Z and the collected Disney pieces of Alan Menken &Howard Ashman! To hear Eliza’s stunning interpretations of living composers’ works, visit her website at www.elizamccarthy.com Why not tell us how you use music to reduce your stress? We’ll be back with Season 3 of Music Helps soon - meanwhile, use this link https://tinyurl.com/35ajsx4z to listen to episodes of Music Helps, share with a friend, or simply access them straight from your preferred podcast platform! Thanks for listening and helping us keep the music flowing… #MusicHelpsPodcast #MusicalWalkabout #Music #Dementia #Wellbeing #LivingWellWithDementia #Mindfulness #ElizaMcCarthy #StressReduction #MindfulnessBasedStressReduction #StressReduction #Piano #Pianist #GuildhallSchoolOfMusicAndDrama #EverythingEverything #AlanMenken #HowardAshman #MusicBuddy #Musicaleidoscope

Social Prescribing is a super powerful tool! Not sure what it is? That’s ok - we’ve got the most excellent guest to help us understand how social prescribing works and how to engage with it yourself! Monica Boulton is the Healthcare Integration Lead at the National Academy for Social Prescribing, the newest member of Musical Walkabout’s board of directors and someone who is absolutely passionate about the power of music and social prescribing… Join us for a fun-filled episode of the Music Helps podcast, where Monica and Nina dive into what music makes her tick and how her lived experiences of witnessing the power of music at work informed her choice of career. Tell us how you think music helps with these simple social prescribing actions… #MusicHelpsPodcast #MusicalWalkabout #Music #Dementia #Wellbeing #LivingWellWithDementia #SocialPrescribing #MonicaBoulton #NationalAcademyOfSocialPrescribing #ThePowerOfMusic #ThePowerOfMusicFund #Cello #SignpostingArtsAndCulture #CommunityConnection #EmpoweringPeople #PodcastPal #MusicBuddy

Ready to lift your mood in just 5 minutes? Tune into our bitesize minisode of Music Helps podcast, where we explore a song guaranteed to lift your spirits and brighten your day! Join us for a musical journey that's sure to leave you feeling refreshed and inspired. Want to keep the music flowing? Drop into our @musicalwalkaboutuk YouTube channel, and dive into our series of 5 minute PlayTime videos... #MusicHelps #Podcast #Take5 #MusicalWalkabout #Music #Dementia #Wellbeing #MusicForWellbeing #LiftYourSpirits #RaiseYourVoice #OhWhatABeautifulMorning #MoodBoost

Join us for a mini escape! Take just 5 minutes to tune into our latest bitesize minisode of Music Helps podcast - we’ve got a joyful intention-setting session to prioritise fun! Take a breather, tune in, and let's make a pact to infuse music into our day… Don’t want the fun to end here? Head on over to our @musicalwalkaboutuk YouTube channel, and discover our series of 5 minute PlayTime videos... #MusicHelps #Podcast #Take5 #MusicalWalkabout #Music #Dementia #Wellbeing #MusicForWellbeing #ChangeTheTempo #KitchenBoogie #IntentionalFun #SetIntentionToJoy #ImABeliever

Ready to shake off the stress? Dive into our quick bitesize minisode of Music Helps podcast and swap your energy with a 5-minute kitchen boogie session! Let the music lift your spirits and groove away the worries. Want to explore more mini music moments? Simply visit our @musicalwalkaboutuk YouTube channel, and get stuck into our series of 5 minute PlayTime videos... #MusicHelps #Podcast #Take5 #MusicalWalkabout #Music #Dementia #Wellbeing #MusicForWellbeing #ChangeTheTempo #KitchenBoogie #GetReady #MusicAndMoving

Need a breather from the daily hustle? Take a 5-minute escape with our latest bitesize minisode of Music Helps podcast… Hit pause, unwind, and change the tempo on your day with your very own Music Buddy! Enjoying this? Well, why not visit our @musicalwalkaboutuk YouTube channel, and explore our series of 5 minute PlayTime videos... #MusicHelps #Podcast #Take5 #MusicalWalkabout #Music #Dementia #Wellbeing #MusicForWellbeing #ChangeTheTempo #BlueMoon #ChillOut #MusicBuddy

Feeling overwhelmed? Take 5 and tune into our bitesize minisode on Music Helps podcast, where we dive into the power of music to soothe your soul. Hit pause on the day and let the melodies guide you to relaxation. For more excellent micro music moments, why not visit our @musicalwalkaboutuk YouTube channel, and explore our series of 5 minute PlayTime videos... #MusicHelps #Podcast #Take5 #MusicalWalkabout #Music #Dementia #Wellbeing #MusicForWellbeing #Gentle #MidnightSun #Lullaby

Need a moment to yourself? We’ve got your back. Join us throughout April for a special series of 5-minute Music Helps minisodes, where Nina guides you through joyful music journeys to carve out some essential me-time. Let the soothing melodies transport you to a place of calm and relaxation. Until then, why not visit our YouTube channel to enjoy our series of PlayTime videos with Nina! @musicalwalkaboutuk on YT #MusicHelps #Podcast #Take5 #MusicalWalkabout #Music #Dementia #Wellbeing #MusicForWellbeing #MeTime

"I love that you get cold when it's 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle above your nose when you're looking at me like I'm nuts. I love that after I spend the day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes." Harry Burns Dive into the holiday spirit with the Music Helps podcast! This final episode of 2023 is a bitesize Songsters session, inviting you to join in with our jolly rendition of our founder Nina's favourite festive song… Spread the joy and merriment by playing it forward - tag a friend in this post and tune in now for the perfect musical boost to your holiday season! Learn more about our staff training in music, dementia and wellbeing, simply head over to our Music Helps page below https://tinyurl.com/4z6dffzy And, as promised, here are the beautiful lyrics, so you can sing along It had to be you It had to be you I wandered around, and I finally found The somebody who Could make me be true And could make me be blue And even be glad Just to be sad - thinking of you Some others I've seen Might never be mean Might never be cross, or try to be boss But they wouldn't do For nobody else gave me a thrill With all your faults, I love you still It had to be you Wonderful you It had to be you Songwriters: Gus Kahn / Isham Jones See you all in 2024! #MusicHelpsPodcast #MusicalWalkabout #Music #Dementia #Wellbeing #HolidayCheer #SongstersSession 🎄🎅🔊

What music is meaningful to you? And why? Take a dive into the magic of meaningful music with the latest episode of Music Helps podcast, with our latest special guest, the incredible Janet Fischer, CEO of Live Music Now. Join host Nina as she and Janet explore her fascinating journey as an operatic soprano, folk violinist, and the profound impact that meaningful music has in the work of Live Music Now. Live Music Now creates inclusive, measurable social impact through music. Their work enhances quality of life, health and well-being, and promotes equity of opportunity by recognising the creative potential of every individual. Janet’s extraordinary musical life is full of surprises, so why not take a little you time, and join us for a joyful conversation spanning from Bach to Nickelback! Look out for a selection of Janet’s favourite songs in our end of season podcast in the New Year. Can’t wait til then? Check out our Music Helps Christmas Playlist on Spotify coming out next week! We love hearing from our listeners, so why not tell us what music is meaningful to you, and why, and help us keep the music flowing… Listen to this episode of Music Helps and catch up on earlier conversations right here 👉 https://tinyurl.com/35ajsx4z Learn more about Music Helps at www.musicalwalkabout.com/musichelps #MusicHelps #MusicalWalkabout #JanetFischer #LiveMusicNow #Music #Dementia #Wellbeing #SocialImpact #Opera #OperaticSoprano #TraditionalViolin #Fiddle #Nickelback #Bach #CEO #Musician #Singer #Violinist

How does music bind your community? Music Helps is excited to introduce our first power couple double-bill of guests! Nina has had the pleasure of knowing Alan & Marg Bartley for several years now, as both are founder members of Musical Walkabout’s ‘Songsters’ community music group, co-curated with and for people living with a dementia, people in caregiving roles and health & social care staff. Alan received a diagnosis of young onset dementia early into his retirement, and has since played an active role in his community. He raises awareness about the realities of dementia through his brilliant poetry and brings people together joyfully by hosting inclusive musical dance and disco nights with his wife Marg. Marg has been integral to Musical Walkabout’s explorations of how music can support caregivers, engaging in not only Songsters, but its offshoot ‘Songsters Care’, which provided a space for people in caregiving roles to explore their creativity and independent time. Both are devoted hearts of their family, and share with Nina all the different ways music plays a part in their day to day lives and their community. Community music engagement with people living with a dementia has been proven to… ~ Enhance social interaction and communication ~ Foster a sense of belonging ~ Reduce isolation and create connected communities These interventions provide a therapeutic and enjoyable avenue for individuals to express themselves, stimulate memories, and improve overall well-being through the power of music. These benefits are also available to participating caregivers. For whatever reason, maybe you feel reluctant to dive into music. Not enough time, or energy or support? We invite you to dip a toe and give music a try! We’re here to help you discover more about the myriad ways to support your wellbeing with music. Listen to this episode of Music Helps and catch up on earlier conversations right here 👉 https://tinyurl.com/35ajsx4z Have a listen to the beautiful song from Alan & Marg’s wedding 👉https://tinyurl.com/5dc5anwu Play Alan's Music Quiz on our Insta page here 👉 https://tinyurl.com/52p5fsrv #MusicHelps #MusicalWalkabout #Songsters #AlanAndMarg #PLWD #YoungOnsetDementia #Caregiving #SongstersCare #Music #Dementia #Wellbeing #Wonkies #Community #CommunityMusic #THRIVE #DavidGates

How important is music to you and your loved ones? Nina’s latest Music Helps guest is renowned Dutch music and dementia specialist Ignar Rip, creator of the MuziekGeluk (Music Happiness) methodology, which he has trained health & social care staff and informal caregivers in for many years. Ignar’s mission is to see music become a standard part of healthcare, a goal he moves us closer to be empowering individuals, communities and the care sector to discover ways to embed music into the culture of their creative care planning. During this exciting conversation, Nina and Ignar will signpost ways you can keep your musical choices person-centred, and dig into how music impacts the caregiving and dementia experiences. Using music to support everyone’s wellbeing can… ~ Reduce agitation ~ Consolidate a fraying sense of identity ~ Connect people across divides in communication How do you embed more music into your day to day activities, and turn it into a Creative Care Plan? Listen to this episode of Music Helps and catch up on earlier conversations right here 👉 https://tinyurl.com/35ajsx4z Find more about Ignar’s amazing work here 👉 https://tinyurl.com/4t35neyh Watch the powerful video of former ballerina Marta Cinta González Saldaña that we talk about here 👉https://tinyurl.com/mwwy469y #MusicHelps #MusicalWalkabout #IgnarRip #MuziekGeluk #MusicHappinness #DutchMusicAndDementiaPractitioner #Music #Dementia #Wellbeing #CareOrientedPlaylist #FabNHSStuff #Songsters #CreativeCarePlan #StartWithThePatientAndWorkBackwards #MusicIsACareTool #WeAreACareTool

What’s in your Musical Toolkit? A master of the multi-disciplinary arts, acclaimed vocalist, composer, performer, loop artist and musical practitioner Randolph Matthews joins Music Helps host Nina Clark to explore the concept of how the contents of our Musical Toolkit shape our lives…and vice versa! What do you keep in yours? ~ songs, artists, vinyl or downloads ~ ideas for musical activities or cherished live music experiences Join Nina and Randolph as they explore his varied and adventurous creative life, and for more information on Musical Walkabout’s practice of co-curating a ‘Musical Toolkit’ and how it can benefit people impacted by a dementia, simply visit https://www.musicalwalkabout.com/musichelps To check out Randolph’s creative output and for links to follow him on social media, visit https://www.randolphmatthews.co.uk/ Listen here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7l9ESuOaoB4 and find out more about Voice Movement Therapy If you want us to keep bringing you more ways that Music Helps, simply subscribe to the podcast, or visit our website to discover resources to start designing your own Musical Toolkit https://www.musicalwalkabout.com/resources Help us keep the music flowing by sharing this podcast with a colleague, friend or loved one impacted by dementia, and leave us a comment on our social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or Twitter to tell us how your Musical Toolkit is shaping up… We champion your voice in this growing conversation about music, dementia and wellbeing so why not check out our work to hear what others think, and play it forward by sharing your thoughts! #MusicHelps #MusicalWalkabout #Music #Dementia #Wellbeing #PLWD #Songsters #RandolphMatthews #Singer #JazzSinger #MultiDisciplinaryArtist #LoopArtist #VoiceMovementTherapy #MusicForWellbeing #NinaClark #MusicalToolkit #Caregivers #LivingWellWithDementia

Do you need a moment of calm? You’ve come to the right place! In today’s Music Helps playtime session, you are invited to join our host Nina Clark on a gentle exploration of our breath practice... All you'll need is: ~ somewhere safe and quiet that you can listen without distraction (not while driving please!) This is a gentle practice, in which we’ll observe our breathing without judgement, apply some simple curiosity and then slow down the pace of our day for a moment. Spending time on breathing exercises can cause positive physiological changes. Did you know that this can help ~ lower blood pressure and heart rate ~ reduce levels of stress hormone in the blood ~ improve immune system functioning? At Music Helps, we’re interested in approaching day to day tasks with playful curiosity, to assist us access a more easeful way of moving through the world. Aka, less stress, thanks. Let’s see how we feel before and after a little time spent with our breath. There’s no one size fits all, so be gentle with yourself if this doesn’t feel right for you, and feel free to look into other avenues of stress reduction or breath practice. Perhaps you’d like to hear more on the 'music and dementia' conversation? Why not help us keep the music flowing by subscribing to this podcast, sharing it with a friend or loved one impacted by dementia, and dropping a comment below! To hear what others think check out https://www.musicalwalkabout.com/testimonials, and play it forward by leaving us some feedback! #MusicHelps #MusicalWalkabout #Music #Dementia #Wellbeing #Songsters #BalancedBreathing #Breath #MusicForWellbeing #NinaClark #BreathPractice #Stress #Singing #Playing #Curiosity

Let’s talk about mental health. Our latest guest on Music Helps is the amazing Sarah Drage, Creative Director of Ethical Creatives, mental health advocate and powerful public speaker. After losing her Dad to alcoholism, Sarah has made it her mission to challenge and address the stigma around alcohol use disorders, running a not-for-profit mental health organisation, connecting to audiences through her TED talk and her online campaigns. Having just been made an ambassador for NACOA (National Association of Children Of Alcoholics) and become a recipient of the BBC Radio Make A Difference awards, Sarah joins Nina to discuss her experiences, and how she uses music to support her mental health and wellbeing. Music has the incredible power to lift our spirits, reminding us that even on our darkest days, there might be a melody to bring light to our minds. Did you know that… ~ Listening to music releases dopamine - the feel good chemical ~ Sharing music with another person promotes bonding and social cohesion Help us keep the music flowing and tell us in the comments how you use music to support your wellbeing… Find more about Sarah's work with Ethical Creatives here 👉 https://tinyurl.com/ysj5enw8 #MusicHelps #MusicalWalkabout #SarahDrage #EthicalCreatives #NACOA #ChildrenofAlcholics #AlcoholUseDisorder #Music #Dementia #Wellbeing #MentalHealth #MusicAndMentalHealth #Songsters #MusicHeals #MentalHealthMatters

How do you soundtrack your day? We know how powerful music can be to support our wellbeing, so we advocate for ways to integrate it into your day-to-day lived experiences As we launch into season 2 of Music Helps, host Nina Clark delves into this idea with Dementia Consultant Ashley Roberts of Dementia Support Australia! Did you know... ~ you can use music to support daily care tasks ~ meaningful music can serve as an anchor for both caregivers and people living with a dementia Join Nina and Ashley as they explore this ethos and Musical Walkabout’s practice of using a ‘Music Clock’ approach to living well with a dementia. For more on Ashley’s work with DSA, click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vg5Yzc5pn7k and to listen to his Jazzplain podcast, visit https://jazzsplain.com/ If you want us to keep bringing you more ways that Music Helps, simply subscribe to the podcast, or get in touch with Nina for a chat about our training programme at https://www.musicalwalkabout.com/musichelps Help us keep the music flowing by sharing this podcast with a colleague, friend or loved one impacted by dementia We champion your voice in this growing conversation about music, dementia and wellbeing so why not check out https://www.musicalwalkabout.com/testimonials to hear what others think, and play it forward by sharing your thoughts! #MusicHelps #MusicalWalkabout #Music #Dementia #Wellbeing #Songsters #AshleyRoberts #DementiaSupportAustralia #HammondCare #DementiaCentre #JazzplainPodcast #InclusiveMusic #MusicForWellbeing #NinaClark #SoundtrackYourDay #DailyCareTasks #Caregivers #LivingWellWithDementia

Need a little pick me up? Let Music Help! To celebrate the first season finale, host Nina Clark puts her music practitioner hat on, and invites you to join her in a gentle, joyful Songsters session... All you'll need is: ~ a 'have-a-go' attitude ~ 10 minutes of 'you time' (yep, you deserve it) That's it! No musical experience required whatsoever. Maybe you've been made to feel unwelcome in music environments in the past. Well, you're welcome here Songster! Wether you're looking for the perfect antidote to a rough day or something to start your week off right, let Nina take you on an exploration of playful curiosity, as we warm up, engage our Vagus nerve and learn a beautiful song together. Nina will be back in September with the second season of Music Helps, bringing you easy, fun and rewarding ways to engage with music to support wellbeing, and more brilliant guests to share their meaningful music experiences with you. We'll be shining a light on the 'music and dementia' conversation, so why not help us keep the music flowing over the summer by sharing this podcast with a friend or loved one impacted by dementia We value your voice, wether raised in song or in camaraderie, so head over to https://www.musicalwalkabout.com/testimonials to hear what others think, and play it forward by sharing your thoughts! #MusicHelps #MusicalWalkabout #Music #Dementia #Wellbeing #Songsters #SkyeBoatSong #InclusiveMusic #MusicForWellbeing #NinaClark #VagusNerve #Vagal #Singing #Playing #Curiosity

All hail, the Stride Queen is in residence! In this episode of Music Helps, host Nina Clark is joined by utter royalty, the legendary jazz pianist, singer, writer and host of NPR's radio show, 'Jazz Inspired' ~ the one and only, Judy Carmichael. The world's leading proponent of the inimitable 'stride' piano style, Judy takes time out of her busy touring schedule to share her thoughts on the transformative power of music, why staying curious is beneficial, and how unlocking her singing voice has been a bountiful journey of discovery. Help us keep the music flowing by sharing this podcast with a friend, and be sure to let us know in the comments below how music helps you! www.judycarmichael.com www.jazzinspired.com #MusicHelps #Podcast #MusicalWalkabout #JudyCarmichael #StrideQueen #Jazz #Pianist #JazzPianist #Stride #StridePianist #JazzSinger #JazzInspired #NPR #NinaClark

A glorious meeting of minds awaits! In this episode of Music Helps, host Nina Clark is joined by none other than blogger and dementia campaigner, Pippa Kelly. A woman of many talents, Pippa also hosts the podcast 'Well I Know Now', in which she and guests discuss what they've learnt in their journeys with dementia. Listen as Pippa talks intimately about moments from her own lived experiences, shares her musical passions and even a special recipe... Help us keep the music flowing by sharing this podcast with a buddy, and let us know in the comments below how music helps you! #MusicHelps #Podcast #MusicalWalkabout #PippaKelly #WellIKnowNow #Blogger #DementiaCampaigner #Dementia #Music #Wellbeing

We've a joyful exchange of ideas for you! In this episode of Music Helps, host Nina Clark is joined by the our very first international guest, the marvellous Eric Kolb. Hailing from Grapevine, Texas, USA, Eric and his wife Sheryl run 'Songs And Smiles', a 501 non-profit charitable organisation, who use music to help families stay connected through the Alzheimer's journey. Eric shares stories of how 'Songs And Smiles' began, during his mother in law Trish's final years living with an Alzheimer's diagnosis, his love of music that combines classical and rock n roll as well as some brilliant tips on engaging people with music in accessible ways. Help us keep the music flowing by sharing this podcast with a buddy, and let us know in the comments below how music helps you! #MusicHelps #Podcast #MusicalWalkabout #EricKolb #SongsAndSmiles #ConnectedFamilies #GrapevineTexas