The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Kirrie music project gets a £7,000 boost
Kirrie Connections is celebrating support from a fund set up by a musician living with dementia whose composition became a viral sensation last year.
Paul Harvey’s Four Notes work was recorded as a single by the BBC Philharmonic after his son shared the 80-year-old’s piano playing on social media.
It led to the setting up of a £500,000 fund, which is now helping 30 projects around the UK to deliver musical services for those living with dementia.
Music for Dementia was nominated by the father and son to receive half of the sales proceeds, alongside Alzheimer’s Society.
Scots philanthropist Sir Tom Hunter made a £1 million donation to the Alzheimer’s Society and Music for Dementia after being moved by 80-yearold Paul’s performance.
The £7,000 grant from Music for Dementia’s Paul and Nick Harvey Fund will enable the Angus charity to continue its weekly Kirrie’s Singin’ group.
It is led by awardwinning traditional singer Christine Kydd.
Music for Dementia is a national campaign calling for music to be made accessible for everyone living with dementia.
Research and lived experiences show it can help reduce the oftendistressing symptoms of dementia, such as agitation, apathy and anxiety.
Pre-covid, the Kirrie’s Singin’ group met every Friday afternoon.
Each session features a wide variety of music.
Classic songs come from suggestions and requests within the group, with choir leader Christine introducing new music to challenge group members and develop new themes.
The Scottish Traditional
Music Hall of Fame figure also leads the group in writing new songs together.
When the first lockdown came in last year the group knew it would be vitally important to stay in contact with its members.
It made the move online in weekly Zoom sessions.
Kirrie’s Singin’ continues to send out a weekly songsheet as the group
works towards returning to meetings in the new Kirrie Connections base at the Roods.
Kirrie Connections CEO Graham Galloway said: “As we slowly start to come out of lockdown it is more important than ever that we can continue to offer the joyful communal experience of group singing to our members.”