Memory Singers: Music Magic Lifts Spirits of Those with Dementia

Music has a special way of making people feel happy, and this is especially true for people living with dementia. In the West Midlands, Paul Bellamy leads a group called Memory Singers, which holds music sessions in Solihull, Warwick, and Coventry. Paul believes that music can activate or even reactivate parts of the brain in people with dementia. During the sessions, the group sings a variety of songs, from childhood tunes to popular hits by bands like Abba. Paul says that the change in people from the start to the end of the session is amazing. People often arrive feeling quiet or unsure, but by the end, they are smiling, talking, and laughing.

Michael Timms is one of the people who attends the sessions with his sister Jen, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease three years ago. At first, the family found it difficult to cope, but now Jen lives in a supported flat and still enjoys music very much. Michael says that Jen remembers all the songs they sing, even though her short-term memory is not as good as it used to be. He goes to the sessions with Jen and his wife, and they all feel very welcome. Michael says that singing together brings them closer as a family and makes them all happier.

Paul explains that music is often the last thing people with dementia forget, even after they lose the ability to speak. He believes that everyone is musical in some way, and that singing gives people a sense of joy, achievement, and purpose. The sessions are organized by the choir and music charity Armonico Consort and include a professional pianist. Paul says that it does not matter if someone is a good singer or not; what matters is that they enjoy themselves. He finds helping people with dementia very rewarding, especially since his own father has Alzheimer's. The sessions start with vocal warm-ups, but soon everyone is singing and having fun. Music helps people connect with each other and brings happiness, even during difficult times.