The Buddy Beat
- is an ongoing group run in collaboration with the NHS, for mental health sevice users in Renfrewshire. We've been drumming together for a year now, and the group has gone from strength to strength - from hesitant beginnings, to being an extremely capable group: eager to perform, and one whose members offer genuine empathy and hospitality towards visitors and prospective new members.
We've had a good bit of local exposure lately - in part through the recent Mental Health Arts and Film Festival - and made a lovely centrefold in the Paisley Daily Express:
http://www.paisleydailyexpress.co.uk/renfrewshire-news/local-news-in-renfrewshire/paisley-news/2008/10/29/a-buddie-good-beat-87085-22137055/
Here's a video of a recent performance and from a conference on socially inclusive occupational therapy conference: it shows a wee performance from the group (their second ever), along with audience participation by 70 occupational therapists...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
It's been a fascinating journey together, and one we all hope will continue. The picture above is of a banner made by one of the group members, which now makes appearances at any events we participate in. Next up is a trip to a local retirement home, to share some rhythm with the residents, and give something back to the wider community. Following this, we have a December date for an event run by Paisley Museum - we've been asked to drum on the museum steps, so we're all trying to work out how to drum with gloves on!Additional work with the NHS involves hospital-based workshops in a variety of mental health settings: in acute wards, continuing care, and a geriatric day hospital.
Together Project - Gartnavel Royal Hospital
This is a pilot project run by Polyphony - a charity based in Glasgow aimed at providing music for mental health and wellbeing. The project is based in a McNiven house, a ward for elderly people with dementia, and aims to involve both residents and their visitors in shared recreational music activity during a weekly visiting slot. It's particularly helpful to have family members and other visitors present, as they can help with information about a resident's musical tastes, as well as being able to take part in a shared activity.
School Projects
Are still very much in demand, and currently include an inspiring Lanarkshire school project, where the whole school is involved in arts activites connected with a link school in Malawi.
Another project will run until Apr 2009, in several Lanarkshire schools and is funded by the Princes Foundation for Children and the Arts.
Strathclyde University
Work continues here, teaching community music for the BA Community Arts course, and postgraduate primary teaching qualifications.
Performing
I'm delighted to be involved once more with Pan African Arts, and playing with resident bands, Hesu and Akaya. I'm also delighted and excited to be recording in December with the ever-inspiring Fischy Music, for their latest album.
