A musical duo are striking the right notes with participants in their newly launched Music Workshop in the Living Well Centre at St Richard’s Hospice.
Volunteers Bryan Husband and Sue Lupton have known each other for over 30 years and performed and taught together many times. They are both musical theatre examiners and judges and are bringing their skills to share with patients, carers and bereaved people at St Richard’s.
Bryan said: “I was very fortunate in that I was offered a series of counselling and complementary therapy sessions at St Richard’s following two close bereavements in 2021. These were incredibly helpful; I would often intentionally arrive at the hospice early in order to play the piano near the reception before the sessions, and it occurred to me that using the space at the hospice in a more inclusive way might be beneficial to others visiting for whatever reason.”
Bryan added, “It has long been known that music can be helpful in so many different ways to many, many people, whether they are ‘musical’ or not.
“Even when I am on an ‘even keel’, playing the piano or singing for even a few minutes takes me to a completely different place, mentally, physically and emotionally. If music – and especially singing – can do this for me after a lifetime of professional music-making, then surely it will possibly do some good for ‘non-musicians’ as well as those who have been involved in music for some or much of their lives.”
Sue is an instrumentalist as well as a singer and spent several years as a music therapist.
“I’m very aware of the effects, physical and emotional, of musical interaction. Music can act as a ‘go-between’ or impartial, non-verbal language, which can enable communication on many levels. Whilst I am not working as a music therapist in these sessions, my training lends a useful bank of experience.”
No previous musical knowledge is needed by participants in the sessions who are all being supported through the hospice’s Living Well Centre.
Find out more about the Living Well Centre