Performing Arts Service
This is a new service, which began in 2009. The team works with groups and individuals using music and the arts to deliver therapy. This service delivers two types of outreach programme in the early years; therapy outreach and performance outreach. Music and activities related to music can stimulate and engage people who find interaction at a verbal level difficult or impossible. The clients in this therapy outreach area are likely to be children in schools for people with learning or other difficulties such as Downs' Syndrome and elderly patients with dementia. The performance outreach involves performances of different types, but it will be unlikely that they are ever passive. The group performed for (dementia patients, blind, hospice/hospital inmates) will hopefully be engaged at a practical level through quizzes; ‘guess the film this song came from' or ‘guess the singer associated with the song'. This gets the client to interact, think and participate. Often these individuals are un-stimulated for many hours of the day and this can lead to their problems getting worse. We aim to counter this by "filling a need while making a noise"!
The student skills required are mostly personal ones such as empathy, understanding, awareness, caring and patience. Students will be taught some basic therapy and counselling skills and will receive some training in music therapy. Our activities may include; one on one therapy, group activities with song and percussion, creating a musical and performances at hospices, hospitals, residential schools and homes.
