Voice Squad Online: free summer singing workshops for the Over 60s

Thanks to a grant from Warwickshire County Council, we are delighted to be able to offer weekly online singing sessions for Over 60s, vulnerable older people and those with dementia, in the area throughout the summer.

The short video sessions are completely free and easy to access via YouTube.  Each week we’ll email you a link to a new session which you can enjoy at your leisure as many times as you want.

Singing improves our sense of happiness and well-being, reduces anxiety and stress and can help combat isolation.

There are three series, all tailored to the Over 60s with sessions specially designed for those who are shielding at home, in residential care settings and for people living with dementia.

Each series is led by one of our highly-skilled singing workshop leaders:

Simon Lole’s workshops are perfect for those people currently isolating at home and feature popular and upbeat songs of the 1960s and 70s from Bridge Over Troubled Water to Lean On Me.

Gaynor Larkin includes golden oldies from the 1940s and 50s and silver screen classics like Somewhere Over the Rainbow and Moon River in her workshops.

Calum Zuckert’s sessions are particularly suitable for people living with dementia for whom music can have especially positive benefits – often more effective than medication – in unlocking memories.  Well-known songs from a bygone era include Amazing Grace, Que Sera Sera and The Sun Has Got His Hat On.

If you or a family member could benefit from these sessions please sign up here.  We’ll select the most appropriate sessions based on your individual circumstances – or you can pick your own – and deliver each week’s session direct to your inbox.  If you’d like further information, including example sessions, or have any queries, please contact Sarah at voicesquad@armonico.org.uk or call 01926 800109 ext 7.

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Armonico Consort is one of eight partners in the Coventry and Warwickshire Creative Health Alliance delivering arts programmes to help combat isolation in these challenging times.  Here are details of the other activities on offer:

Arts Uplift Inside Stories – A series of 4 arts projects working with people with particular needs to creatively document stories of how they are feeling through hand-sewing mindfulness; dance/movement; creative writing; or music jenny.artservice@icloud.com 

Escape Arts We are One – A 6 page A4 publication of creative activities including Spiral Waves and Pandemic Pals postcards with a focus on friendship and hope resulting in a hospital installation karenwilliams@escapearts.org.uk

Sundragon Pottery Creative Clay – Pack which includes clay, simple tools, activities and instructions. Your work could also be part of an online exhibition fscanlan@hotmail.co.uk

Live and Local Living rooms – A series of micro artist commissions to create bespoke virtual performances with twinned rural communities in response to their needs chris@liveandlocal.org.uk

My Voice Lifts My Soul – An online singing programme for improving lung health in people discharged from hospital, culminating in a digital performance juliet@julietrussell.com

The Starfish Collaborative The Bigger Picture – Online creative tutorials focusing on themes of connection for the wider community plus family wellbeing sessions, young people’s digital media project for those affected by childhood cancer admin@thestarfishcollaborative.co.uk

Open Theatre – Young people with learning difficulties and their families can learn new skills in film making and physical theatre and become part of a new community hazel@opentheatre.co.uk