Making Music with People with Dementia

The aim of this one-day training is to provide an introduction to musical and other improvisational ways of working with people living with dementia.

By the end of this training day participants will be able to:

Identify potential effects and benefits of music for people with dementia
Demonstrate basic music leadership skills for working with people with dementia
Identify relevant repertoire, musical activities and techniques for use in group and individual music-making with people with dementia
The day will be mainly practical in nature, covering different ways of making music and improvising, considering the skills needed to do this work, and giving delegates an opportunity to lead a musical activity in a safe and supportive environment.

The course is appropriate for anyone who wants to learn more about working musically with people with dementia or who wish to refresh their skills or gain new ideas for their own musical work.

Trainers:

Liv McLennan

Liv is a community musician and Co-Director of Music for Wellbeing CIC alongside Kevin Plummer and Chris Cook. Liv has had a passion for working for people with dementia since her teens, when her grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s-type dementia, and especially about the power of music to enhance quality of life. She is also an Associate of Dementia Pathfinders and trains people in Circle Dance in Dementia and Dementia Awareness.

The main areas she specialises in are Early Years, community singing, people with longer term health conditions (dementia, respiratory conditions and Parkinson’s) and intergenerational work. She has worked with various organisations, including Westminster Arts, Age Exchange, Historic Royal Palaces and Alzheimer’s Society delivering music, movement, reminiscence and cross-arts projects. She is also a trainer in these areas and has run training sessions for community musicians and care workers in how to incorporate these techniques into their own work.

She is currently delivering sessions for the Wiltshire Celebrating Age project as well as numerous local groups and organisations. Liv plays the cello, highland bagpipes, ukulele and sax, and uses singing in her community music work. She has just started a PhD in intergenerational music within a care home setting at Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Kevin Plummer

Kevin is a music maker and workshop leader. He is also involved in theatre writing and performing.

Since 1990 he has played performed, composed and toured with Kenny Process Team and The Windsors.

Since 1999 he has been a music workshop leader, running classes for groups including adults with learning disability, refugees, people living with dementia, mental health issues and recovery from addiction.

Since 2008 he has also been involved as musical director, performer and playwright in the London theatre, comedy and improvisation scene.

Booking is made via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/making-music-with-people-with-dementia-salisbury-registration-53993347556

All booking enquiries should be directed to Dementia Pathfinders info@dementiapathfinders.org and course content enquiries to Music for Wellbeing CIC mfwb2016@gmail.com