Launched at the end of 2011, On A Good Day aimed to improve well-being for Londoners living with mental illness and mental health problems. LMN's South East branch recognised a real need to respond to the increasing number of requests that they were receiving from organisations working in the field.
Between September 2011 and June 2014 Live Music Now delivered a total of 220 music sessions reaching over 1,000 beneficiaries and involving 60 LMN musicians and alumni. Sessions took place in 25 mental health settings including psychiatric units, residential and day settings that work with a range of vulnerable people including older people, refugees and asylum seekers, and the homeless.
LMN South East created a range of sub-projects responding to the different needs of participants and the nature of the music sessions has varied enormously involving participatory performances, residencies, singing and composition workshops, one-to-one mentoring and a mix of musical genres.
"At the end of 2014 we find ourselves in a very different place from four years ago. Live Music Now staff and musicians have found working on the project challenging, exciting and rewarding and have learnt a great deal along the way. We have gathered much data over the course of the project which demonstrates that the project has had a real impact on individuals and their lives." Erica Lang, Project Manager and Trust Fundraiser, Live Music Now (South East)
Working with an external evaluator, we carefully tracked the impact that these projects had on the lives of the people involved. In many cases it led to some profound and moving experiences.
Raja's Story
"When I was working with Kokila I felt better as I was playing with a professional musician after such a long time. She gives much confidence by her words and the way that she teaches. She has also encouraged me to start communicating with other musicians via a chamber music ensemble course in City Lit. Thanks the Forum and dear Kokila." – Raja
(To read more of Raja's story, click here)
Funding for 'On A Good Day' was provided by City Bridge Trust (Y1-Y3), The Adrian Swire Charitable Trust (Y2) and The Brook Trust (Y2&Y3). For a copy of the full evaluation report, please email [email protected]
Photo Credit: Harrow Community Choir / LMN musicians Kokila Gillet-Khan performing with Raja. Simon Jay Price
The title 'On a Good Day' was chosen for several reasons. One in particular worth relaying: Schumann composed his own set of four pieces for combination of clarinet, viola and piano, which he titled Märchenerzählungen – "Fairy Tale Stories." When it was published Schumann sent a copy of the score to his friend Albert Dietrich with the following inscription: "To Albert Dietrich/in lasting memory/Düsseldorf, 20 February 1854/ (on a good day)." Seven days later Schumann tried to commit suicide by jumping half-clothed into the River Rhine.
