Turning back the clock with music as our key!
We have been developing our entertainment and activities for older members of our community or those who prefer their music to be vintage!
It has long been known that music can reach the parts that words cannot reach with its expressive and joy-giving functions, and whilst for a few years now we have used music as a vehicle for progress, and for those in recovery - we have recently turned our gaze upon the way that music can help the older members of our community too. At present we offer three strands - but watch this space as we plan to launch more activities in the spring including an art club and some time in our electronics workshop with Al, our chief technical person! Read the article published in The Press here
Flourish @ Smart - Mondays 11.30-12.30
Tang Hall Smart are now involved in what was previously called, the Vocal Flourish Choir. This was set up in York in February 2015, funded by Joseph Rowntree Foundation(JRF) as part of their programme Dementia without Walls, under the management of Emily Abbot. In its first couple of years, the choir was directed by Ruth McCartney, and initially was made up of people with dementia, expanding and opening up to people who did not have dementia in 2016. In 2016 they even performed at York Barbican as part of a Night to Remember where they got a standing ovation. Bringing us up to date, the last couple of years, the choir had a second music director, Buffy Breakwell – but in December 2018, both she, and Emily Abbot (the project manager) sadly had to move on – and it looked like the choir would have to finish, but with a big of juggling things around, Neil and I have now committed to working with the group and are opening it up to others, including participants at United Response and others who have learning disabilities too. There are loads of fantastic choirs in York – but I think the unique point of ours is that it is going to be more informal, a bit of a sing-along, with the focus on ‘feeling good’ through singing. We will do performances, but our chief priority is for people to have a chance to sing their heart out! We would love to hear from anyone, particularly from/on behalf of those with dementia, but it could be anyone of any age at all, if you prefer a more informal singing group to a traditional choir. We are mainly singing popular songs from the 1930s-1960s with a couple of modern ones, to reflect and respect how many of our participants are older members of the community. Sessions are on a Monday morning, 11.30-12.30 (although doors open at 11am and close at 1.00pm so that tea/coffee can be served). Each session is £3 and includes refreshments. For info on Flourish@Smart phone Jane on 07502346867
Monthly Tea Dances at The Centre@Burholme
Our monthly Tea Dances at The Centre@Burnholme, are held on the last Saturday of the month, with the next being Saturday 23rd February 1-3pm where Suzy Kane (vocals and sax) and Ernest Humphrey (piano) will perform songs from the 1930s, then also on March 23rd, where there is a double bill of Ernest and Suzy, plus Natasha Nostalgia and the Blue Rib-band. For February and March, and thanks to Heworth Ward Funding, the price for tickets is just £1 – and that includes tea/coffee and cake!
Travelling Tea Dances
on top of our monthly tea-dances held in the assembly hall here, we have also branched out into an outreach model, whereby Suzy and Ernest (aka myself and Neil Card our musical director) can be booked to perform at care homes etc on a Tuesday or Thursday afternoon. Thanks to “A Life Less Lonely and the Two Ridings Community Foundation”, there are huge subsidies available at present for any independent living centre/care home in York to book up to 3 visits. Bookings can be made via the Ernest and Suzy website.
And that is it for now, other than to say, we really hope to see you at Tea Dance on Saturday 23rd, no need to book, just turn up on the door!
Sue (AKA Suzy Kane!) xxx
