Transforming Communities

Live Music Now celebrates 10 years of Songs & Scones at the Horniman Museum

2019 marks the tenth anniversary of Live Music Now’s Songs & Scones programme. With the growing number of older people across the UK there is an urgent need to tackle social isolation and ease challenges faced by the oldest members of our society.

LMN SE musicians Borealis Sax quartet performed at the Horniman Museum with people living with dementia or the effects of a stroke. Staff from Yalding Healthy Living Centre, Stroke Association, Peartree Care Home, Limetree Care Home, Lambeth and Rose Court Care Home at the event also joined – all coming together to celebrate the end of the programme which had spanned across 18 performances in settings across Lewisham, Lambeth, Greenwich and Southwark.

The Songs & Scones programme brings together older people who live on their own in the community or in care homes for an afternoon of music, tea and conversation. Each session begins with an informal participatory concert led by professional LMN musicians, trained to work with older communities and those living with dementia, followed by time for refreshments and socialising. Presenting the music in the form of a regular social event and giving everyone an active choice of programme provides an excellent forum to make new friends, build optimism, confidence and self-esteem.

“I observed emotions coming to the surface, encouraged by the music, and a few moist eyes at times. A lady who is experiencing ’emotional lability’ following a stroke and who had been crying since entering the room, was able to become visibly relaxed and stopped crying during the performance.” – Care Home Staff Member

“The programme was excellent – it catered for a variety of musical tastes and also showed respect for any prior knowledge amongst the adults present. I especially enjoyed an explanation of different terms describing different pieces and what they mean, such as ‘etude’ and ‘nocturne’.” – Horniman Staff Member

Here’s a film we made during few years ago about the impact of Songs & Scones in Ryedale, Yorkshire:

Songs & Scones – Ryedale, North Yorkshire from Live Music Now on Vimeo.

Live Music Now SE would like to thank Merchant Taylors’ Company for funding Songs & Scones.