Lavant Road Surgery, Chichester patients’ participation group

1. Lavant Road Surgery, Chichesterpatients’ participation group Dr. Rod Paton Dr. Eileen Pankhurst Dr. Julia Potter Dr. Ruth Lowry www.chi.ac.uk

2. Vox Anima Singing for Health the ‘Lifemusic’ Way

3. Outline • Singing in the UK (especially England) • The Lifemusic Method • The‘Vox Anima’ Singing for Health Project • Interim outcomes and evaluations

4. Singing in the UK • Absence of ‘universal tongue’ (folksong) • Strong media norms (e.g. ‘The Voice’ ‘X Factor’) • Traditional choral societies exclusive • Schools tend to narrowly define ‘singing’ • Growth of community choirs • Grassroots movements (NVPN, Sound Sense) • Wider concept of voicework from therapeutic practice • ‘Gareth Malone’ effect • Surge of interest in therapeutic value of singing

5. Common Attitudes and Responses to Singing • “I’ll do ‘owt but sing…” (participant before session) • “You made me sing you b*****d!” (same participant after session) • “I can’t sing – I’m tone deaf” • “I wouldn’t inflict my voice on anybody.” (John Humphries, broadcaster) • Embarrassed laughter – protestations - flushing • “Maybe you used to sing like an angel but now you sing like a crow.” (music examiner to 15-year old student.)

6. Lifemusic challenges cultural norms

7. Lifemusic Precepts • Everyone is musical • There are no wrong notes in music • Every sound has a meaning • Music making is an act of trust

8. Everyone is musical • The myth of talent • Re-defining musicality • Challenging cultural norms • Musical ability defined as sporting prowess • Quality of experience more important than value of musical object • Originality and imagination not dependent on physical or mental dexterity

9. No wrong notes • Only ‘norms’ • Imposition of “right” notes political not musical • Canonic values embedded in musical style • Potential for abuse • ‘errors’ might be hidden intentions (Brian Eno) • Individuality and expression limited by notion of ‘rightness’ • Non-judgemental approach necessary for creative life and for therapeutic focus • Schooling destroys creativity (Ken Robinson)

10. Every Sound has a Meaning • The myth of the beautiful (not just in music) • Fallacious notion that there is a right way to sing • Exploring full potential of voice • Stepping outside of the familiar • Range of vocal texture linked to human potential • Different voices open up new channels - mental, emotional, physical

11. Trust • Liminality and improvisation (Even Ruud) • Communitas • Hearing – Listening – Sensing – Feeling • Structures of trust • Affect attunement (Daniel Stern)

12. Lifemusic Ingredients • Participation • Improvisation • Communication • Well-being

13. Improvisation Direction of travel – from inner to outer Connects with the moment Cannot be commodified Opens pathways of healing Promotes synchronicity

14. “It’s a rainbow! The group had been performing an improvisation called “rainbows” when one of the participants actually saw one through the window.

15. Improvisation and wellness “Composition says ‘I’ improvisation says ‘we’ (Joachim Berendt)

17. Vox Anima Method • Warming up - awakening • Improvising - imagining • Communicating - sharing • Performing - witnessing

18. Singing for Health – the model • Single GP practice – Chichester • Patients’ Participation group • University/community engagement • Taster sessions • Lottery funded • Aims and expectations variable • Average attendance 40-50 • Total attendance since Jan 2012, 180+ • Measuring well-being and health benefits • Model disseminated through practice managers

19. What to sing? • Warm-ups…body and brain gym • Chi gong – stretching and singing • Speechsong • Improvisation with holding forms • Traditional songs • Rounds and canons • World music – chants and joiks • Spirituals • Originals – specially composed music • Participants’ choices

20. Measuring well-being • 3 models of evaluation • Psychological/Social • Physiological • The Lifemusic questionnaire

21. Physiological tests • 4 data collection points – April/July/Sep/Dec • General health conditions and lifestyle • Body composition • Peak flow • Cortisol in saliva • Daily record sheets – sleep, medication, resting pulse, waist circumference • Evidence of improved sense of well-being and “looking after oneself” • Medical data inconclusive

22. Psychological measurement • Motivation (Self regulation questionnaire) • Quality of Life • Social support network • 2 time points of evaluation 1 month apart • Love of singing, fun and enjoyment (Intrinsic motivation) • Modest improvement in quality of life • Strengthens self-identity

23. Reported Benefits (General) • Makes you more cheerful • Improves breathing • Relaxing • Increases alertness • Promotes friendship • Increases confidence • Raises energy levels – revitalizing • Reduces stress • Promotes community, develops friendships • Creates unique feeling of achievement/satisfaction • Uplifting (spiritually) • Helps people sleep more deeply • Physical exercise • Raises mental alertness • Enhances concentration • Opens up the personality • Sense of elation • Simple enjoyment • Raises sense of perception – increases ability to notice detail • Combats depression

24. Brian Eno I believe that singing is the key to long life, a good figure, a stable temperament, increased intelligence, new friends, super self-confidence, heightened sexual attractiveness and a better sense of humor. A recent long-term study conducted in Scandinavia sought to discover which activities related to a healthy and happy later life. Three stood out: camping, dancing and singing.

25. Lifemusic www.lifemusic.org Putting the ‘hum’ into human