Received from one of my news/PR service subscriptions:

---------------------------------------------------

Folkestone seminar looks at the effects of singing on elderly people

The effects of singing on the health and well being of elderly people 
will be explored at a public seminar on Tuesday 13th May.  The event 
will take place at the Sidney De Haan Research Centre for Arts and 
Health, which is situated at the University Centre Folkestone, Mill Bay, 
Folkestone.

Senior health lecturers, Dr Hilary Bungay and Dr Ann Skingley, both from 
The Sidney De Haan Research Centre for Arts and Health, Canterbury 
Christ Church University, will present their findings on the 'Silver 
Song Clubs Project' - a scheme which operates over 30 song clubs across 
the South East for people who may be socially isolated or suffering from 
the effects of age related health problems. Dr Bungay and Dr Skingley 
will examine the effectiveness of these clubs, which take place at a 
variety of community venues for older people.

Dr Bungay explained: "The Silver Song Clubs Project was set up in answer 
to a Government drive to improve the health and wellbeing of older 
people.  Our aim has been to explore the benefits of these clubs.  We 
focused on six Silver Song Clubs and observed music sessions; 
interviewed those who ran the clubs as well as participants; and held 
focus group discussions with volunteers from local singing groups who 
assisted in the project.  Participants told us that the clubs boosted 
their feelings of happiness; significantly improved their mental health 
and physical wellbeing; developed their memory, recall and cognition; 
and encouraged social interaction.  Ultimately our findings suggest 
that, through the power of music, older people's quality of life can be 
dramatically improved."

The seminar is free of charge to the public and will take place between 
1pm and 3pm.  To book a place at this seminar please contact Isobel 
Salisbury at the Sidney De Haan Research Centre on 01303 220870.

---------------------------------------------------

Hope this is of interest.

David

-- 
Icon Publications Ltd, Maxwell Place, Maxwell Lane, Kelso TD5 7BB
Company Registered in England No 2122711. Registered Office 12 Exchange 
St, Retford, Notts DN22 6BL
VAT Reg No GB458101463
Trading as Icon Publications Ltd, Photoworld Club and Troubadour.uk.com
www.iconpublications.com - www.troubadour.uk.com - www.f2photo.co.uk - 
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Tel +44 1573 226032

On Apr 28, 12:55 pm, David Kilpatrick  wrote:
> Received from one of my news/PR service subscriptions:
>
> ---------------------------------------------------
>
> Folkestone seminar looks at the effects of singing on elderly people
>
> The effects of singing on the health and well being of elderly people
> will be explored at a public seminar on Tuesday 13th May.  The event
> will take place at the Sidney De Haan Research Centre for Arts and
> Health, which is situated at the University Centre Folkestone, Mill Bay,
> Folkestone.
>
> Senior health lecturers, Dr Hilary Bungay and Dr Ann Skingley, both from
> The Sidney De Haan Research Centre for Arts and Health, Canterbury
> Christ Church University, will present their findings on the 'Silver
> Song Clubs Project' - a scheme which operates over 30 song clubs across
> the South East for people who may be socially isolated or suffering from
> the effects of age related health problems. Dr Bungay and Dr Skingley
> will examine the effectiveness of these clubs, which take place at a
> variety of community venues for older people.
>
> Dr Bungay explained: "The Silver Song Clubs Project was set up in answer
> to a Government drive to improve the health and wellbeing of older
> people.  Our aim has been to explore the benefits of these clubs.  We
> focused on six Silver Song Clubs and observed music sessions;
> interviewed those who ran the clubs as well as participants; and held
> focus group discussions with volunteers from local singing groups who
> assisted in the project.  Participants told us that the clubs boosted
> their feelings of happiness; significantly improved their mental health
> and physical wellbeing; developed their memory, recall and cognition;
> and encouraged social interaction.  Ultimately our findings suggest
> that, through the power of music, older people's quality of life can be
> dramatically improved."
>
> The seminar is free of charge to the public and will take place between
> 1pm and 3pm.  To book a place at this seminar please contact Isobel
> Salisbury at the Sidney De Haan Research Centre on 01303 220870.
>
> ---------------------------------------------------
>
> Hope this is of interest.
>
> David
>
> --
> Icon Publications Ltd, Maxwell Place, Maxwell Lane, Kelso TD5 7BB
> Company Registered in England No 2122711. Registered Office 12 Exchange
> St, Retford, Notts DN22 6BL
> VAT Reg No GB458101463
> Trading as Icon Publications Ltd, Photoworld Club and Troubadour.uk.comwww.iconpublications.com-www.troubadour.uk.com-www.f2photo.co.uk-www.photoclubalpha.com-www.minoltaclub.co.uk
> Tel +44 1573 226032

I read this as "the effects of singing on the health and well being of
elderly people will be exposed...".
I thought to myself "I'm a instrumentalist and I know where my
allegiances lie but as conspiracy theories go surely that's going a
bit far...".

David Kilpatrick wrote:

> 
> Dr Bungay explained: "The Silver Song Clubs Project was set up in answer 
> to a Government drive to improve the health and wellbeing of older 
> people.  Our aim has been to explore the benefits of these clubs.  We 
> focused on six Silver Song Clubs and observed music sessions; 
> interviewed those who ran the clubs as well as participants; and held 
> focus group discussions with volunteers from local singing groups who 
> assisted in the project.  Participants told us that the clubs boosted 
> their feelings of happiness; significantly improved their mental health 
> and physical wellbeing; developed their memory, recall and cognition; 
> and encouraged social interaction.  Ultimately our findings suggest 
> that, through the power of music, older people's quality of life can be 
> dramatically improved."

Well it's good to know this; all of us folkies who are now approaching 
or beyond retirement age can take heart from the idea that our hobby is 
a health-promoting activity. We won't need special volunteers to run 
clubs for us, we'll just keep on doing it for ourselves. And the next 
time someone asks us where all the younger people are, we'll just say 
who cares, we're doing this for us! :-)

> 
> Hope this is of interest.
> 
Seriously, it is of interest. It's refreshing to see singing being 
recognised as a healthy activity that promotes wellbeing and quality of 
life. And I see no reason why these benefits shouldn't apply to the 
wider population, not just the elderly.

Apart from the church, the playground, the football stands and the rugby 
club (worthy venues all, but not suitable for everyone), there are very 
few places people can go and have a good sing when they feel like it. 
They can join a choir -  and many of the newer "community choirs" make 
this a possibility for a much wider range of people than traditional 
choirs - but this usually requires a regular commitment to weekly 
rehearsals.

Folk clubs (well, many of them) are a welcome alternative in that they 
offer the chance to join in or get up and perform songs, or just to sit 
among others who do, in a relaxed social setting. Perhaps if singing is 
officially recognised as a beneficial activity in the same way that 
sport and religious worship are, we can hope for more support for local 
clubs and festivals, and a relaxation of the licensing regulations ....

and then again, maybe we shouldn't hold our breaths.

-- 
Marjorie

To reply, replace dontusethisaddress with marje

In message <pPadnSqrr7fZiIvVnZ2dnUVZ8vidnZ2d@plusnet>, Marjorie 
 writes
>David Kilpatrick wrote:
>
>>  Dr Bungay explained: "The Silver Song Clubs Project was set up in 
>>answer to a Government drive to improve the health and wellbeing of 
>>older  people. Our aim has been to explore the benefits of these 
>>clubs.  We  focused on six Silver Song Clubs and observed music 
>>sessions;  interviewed those who ran the clubs as well as 
>>participants; and held  focus group discussions with volunteers from 
>>local singing groups who  assisted in the project. Participants told 
>>us that the clubs boosted  their feelings of happiness; significantly 
>>improved their mental health  and physical wellbeing; developed their 
>>memory, recall and cognition;  and encouraged social interaction. 
>>Ultimately our findings suggest  that, through the power of music, 
>>older people's quality of life can be  dramatically improved."
>
>Well it's good to know this; all of us folkies who are now approaching 
>or beyond retirement age can take heart from the idea that our hobby is 
>a health-promoting activity. We won't need special volunteers to run 
>clubs for us, we'll just keep on doing it for ourselves. And the next 
>time someone asks us where all the younger people are, we'll just say 
>who cares, we're doing this for us! :-)

Strange, but I'd always thought that, when I was a younger person, my 
quality of life was improved by music - although nobody ever asked me 
then. But then of course a lot of my 'social interaction' took place at 
folk clubs in the local ... heaven forfend that we should want go down 
that road again.

Anyhow, will it be okay if we wrinklies dig out the Arrans, the cords, 
and the Jesus boots, or is that getting just too acoustically dangerous. 
Will anyone notice if I just suck on an empty pipe? Can't have a beer - 
got stopped coming out of the car park from a recent acoustic session 
(ho, ho, bad news officer - I  know I'm driving carefully, but I've only 
had orange juice). And, sorry, but I'm not growing the beard again. 
Focus groups, nah, us old focus prefer folk groups.

I see from today's paper that mental puzzles are just the job for those 
getting on a tad. We could go for the double whammy - Sudoko Blues 
anyone ?? ;^)
Chris A.
-- 
Chris Atkinson
christopher.atkinson43@ntlworld.com
Things are more like they are now than they ever were before.