Hitting the right note for dementia awareness
A charity providing support for dementia sufferers and their families and carers is hosting a special exhibition. Jenny White finds out more
THE Forget-me-not Chorus is an inspirational charity that uses the power of song to bring joy to people with dementia and their families. Now its achievements are being brought to a wider audience through a special exhibition, My Song My Story, running at Penarth Pavilion until June 17 as part of the Festival of Voice.
Each week, Forget-me-not choirs meet in Cardiff North, South and Vale, Newport and two Cardiff care homes to sing, rehearse and have fun under the baton of Kate Woolveridge, the choir’s artistic director, mezzo soprano and a previous recipient of ITV1 Lorraine’s Inspirational Woman of the Year Award.
The Forget-me-not Chorus aims to empower both people with dementia and their families to use song to express themselves, using the power of music to provide a sense of normality, and to give families a positive experience of being together.
Writer Patrick Jones has been working with all five Forget-me-not Chorus choirs to unearth the songs and stories that have a meaning for them and turn them into short pieces of prose or poetry, which will feature in the exhibition along with photographs by Brian Tarr.
“I have had the privilege of listening to Forget-me-not Chorus members share their special song or piece of music,” says Patrick.
“I have seen eyes light up, feet tap, smiles break out where sadness had sat and never failed to have been moved, enlightened and re-humanised at my visits.”
A book has been published to accompany the exhibition, and this has drawn praise from ITV’s Lorraine Kelly.
“There’s an honest and simple beauty in this very moving collection of poems, perfectly capturing the powerful work of this incredible charity,” she says.
“The My Song My Story project lets us in to the lives of families living with dementia, and reminds us of the joy and comfort a musical memory can bring.”
Forget-me-not Chorus was formed in January 2012 by Kate Woolveridge and Sarah Teagle, who have been working with the group since 2010 when it was set up by Welsh National Opera and Cardiff and Vale Alzheimer’s Society.
The effervescent Kate is at the helm each week, singing and encouraging with baton in hand. The accomplished mezzo soprano, vocal animateur and singing teacher is a great believer in the power of song for those living with dementia and their families.
“I believe passionately in the power of music,” she says. “Singing together in a relaxed and fun environment has immense therapeutic benefits for both those suffering with dementia and their families.
“The joy and laughter is infectious and the feel-good factor remains long after the rehearsal is over.
“Everyone’s dementia journey is unique but we are united as we sing together. Our choristers tell us that the Forget-me-not Chorus is a ‘spa for the soul’ and I couldn’t agree more.”
Weekly rehearsals last two hours and the choir sing a mix of their favourite songs as well as songs that are new to them.
“Often you hear people saying how lovely it is when people with dementia sing old war songs and their memories come back,” says Kate. “That’s not who we are or what we are about. It’s not about recalling memories, it’s about engagement, safety and fun.
“It’s also about escapism, both for those with dementia and for their carers. It’s about going out and having fun together. They are part of a community and among friends.”
Kate is eager to stress that this is not a counselling session or a dementia help group – it’s a choir. “It’s not a support group. Lots of people are turned off by the idea of sitting around and talking about dementia. We don’t talk about dementia. This is a normalising experience where everyone is on the same level. It’s not about sadness or dwelling. It’s a happy, uplifting experience.”
As part of the week long exhibition, professional musicians from Welsh National Opera as well as aspiring singers from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, will give a series of free concerts in the pavilion to share the joy of music making and celebrating the power of song to change lives.
For more details, visit www.forgetmenotchorus.com