University hosts Music, Health and Wellbeing Workshop

The University’s Creative Manchester initiative hosted a Music, Health and Wellbeing workshop as part of the ESRC Festival of Social Sciences. The annual festival seeks to promote social sciences research, which translates into real benefits for society and individuals.

The Music, Health and Wellbeing workshop took place on 11 November, in collaboration between Creative Manchester, the Music Department and the Division of Nursing, Midwifery & Social Work.

There is a growing body of evidence demonstrating that participation in the arts can dramatically improve health and wellbeing. This workshop was an opportunity to share some of Creative Manchester’s work in this area of arts and health, which has led to real-world applications of research on music and dementia.

The event brought together researchers, practitioners, musicians with specialisms ranging from music therapy to dementia care to social prescribing.

Opening the event, University alumnus Mark Radcliffe of BBC Radio 6 Music fame gave a welcome address on the universal power of music. Professor of Ethnomusicology Caroline Bithell, offered fascinating insights into the physiological and psychological benefits of singing. John Keady, Professor of Older People’s Mental Health Nursing explored the in-the-moment impacts of musical participation on people living with dementia.

Other speakers included; Dr Virginia Tandy OBE (National Agency for Age-Friendly Culture) who spoke about creative ageing and Bev Taylor (National Academy for Social Prescribing) who explored the benefits of social prescribing.

Creative Manchester partners Manchester Camerata presented the orchestra’s award-winning Music in Mind programme, which helps people with dementia to “live well through music”.

The workshop enabled participants to share personal accounts of music enriching their health and wellbeing, in the context of the pandemic and more widely.

You can watch a recording here: Music, Health and Wellbeing workshop

For more information visit Creative Manchester