ARMONICO Consort is hoping to bring joy and music to the lives of those with dementia by launching a memory choir.
The singing group will be ran by volunteers and aims to improve brain activity while boosting wellbeing, mood and memory.
Armonico musicians have trained with the Alzheimer’s Society’s initiative, Singing for the Brain, and the sessions will be held every Monday morning in Warwick.
A spokeswoman from Armonico Consort said: “Over the past year lockdown measures have only increased loneliness and isolation for older members of our society and, particularly, for those living with dementia in the community and in care homes. At the same time, our own professional freelance musicians have seen much of their work disappear during the pandemic.
“In partnership with Singing for the Brain, we have been able to retrain our musicians, enabling them to utilise their skills in new ways.
“While the sessions will offer a variety of music from many genres, this is an Armonico project and therefore elements of baroque music will be incorporated each week.
“Our very first memory choir will be an open access singing group for people living with dementia and their carers, bringing them together in a stimulating, fun, friendly and safe environment. The sessions will be collaborative and uniting – just as music is itself – improving brain activity, well-being and mood, and helping to reconnect memory.”
The group is looking for ‘warm, empathetic and enthusiastic’ volunteers to help run the sessions.
Those who would also like to be a member of the group are asked to get in touch as places are limited.
Email Sarah Riddell on [email protected] or call 07722 632242 to find out more.
