Blog
Guiding a Choir to Christmas
A Tutor's Musical Journey
Posted: 29/11/2024
At Voices of Hope, our dedicated team of tutors, with an immense passion for music and their commitment to empowering older people, played a vital role in guiding the choir members through the process of creating the song for our project, Meaningful Memories. In this project, a group of Surrey’s older people came together to tell the Christmas stories of their childhood through an original Christmas song. Our wonderful tutors were some of many people that brought this project to reality. They shared their experiences working with the choirs, hearing their stories and the journey to making the song.
Vivienne, one of the tutors involved in the project, first came to Voices of Hope as an intern during her degree at Kingston University. She loved her training with community choirs and we were so impressed with her growth and development that she has now become one of Voices of Hope’s key choir tutors. She recalled that it was fascinating to discover what Christmas means to different people. The stories shared by the choir members painted a vivid picture of Christmas past, filled with warmth, nostalgia, and a sense of belonging. Vivienne was also involved in teaching the song to the choirs, helping them rehearse and eventually conducting them through the recording process.
As part of her preparation process for the project, Vivienne dedicated time to learning the score to familiarise herself with the tune and the music. She believes in learning all the songs thoroughly herself before teaching them to the choir. Vivienne found it especially rewarding to take time and understand the lyrics and the sentiments they convey since the lyrics lie at the heart of the song.
Throughout the rehearsal process, Vivienne employed various techniques to help the choir members learn and perfect the song. By breaking down the lyrics into smaller sections and practising each line repeatedly, she was able to ensure that everyone felt comfortable and confident with the music. “When learning and rehearsing a new song, I find it helpful to go through it line by line. Singing each line several times allows the choir and me to become familiar with the song and makes it easier to correct any mistakes. I believe that this repetition is especially beneficial when working with older choir members”, said Vivienne.
This process, however, wasn’t without its difficulties.
One of the key challenges faced by Vivienne was keeping the members engaged and motivated throughout the project. With the summer months approaching, it was difficult to maintain the same level of enthusiasm for a Christmas-themed song. However, she found a way to inspire the choir members by emphasising the significance of the project and its potential impact on the community. “I consistently explained the purpose and goal of the project during each rehearsal, reminding them that our work could reach a wide audience and potentially make them famous!” Vivienne recalled.
This project entailed something new for Vivienne as she hadn’t conducted a choir through a recording before. For her it was quite a unique experience to have the composer, sound engineer and camera operator around, and even added to the motivation she felt. Vivienne recalls having fun making sure the choir was engaged and enjoying themselves while also capturing all the elements needed for the recording.
For Vivienne, seeing the choir members’ joy and enthusiasm as they sang together and the project came to life in a blend of beautiful and uplifting harmony was one of the most rewarding parts. And Vivienne, like the rest of us, can’t wait to hear the final cut of the song and watch the video. Vivienne found much joy in being part of a project like this. Working with the choir, learning the song, adapting her methods to help the choirs and watching this heartwarming project come together was special for her.
Community projects like this are a testament to the power of music to bring people together and celebrate the spirit of the holiday season. It is a lasting reminder of the importance of community, creativity, and the enduring power of human connection and shows the importance of starting and engaging in similar community projects.
Written by Rebecca Reji
With thanks to our funders, The Foyle Foundation
Singing for Wellbeing
How Choirs Empower Older Adults Through Music
Posted: 21/11/2024
Meaningful Memories draws on the memories around Christmas to give older adults the opportunity to use their voices, creativity and experiences to co-create a unique piece of music. But the project is about far more than just producing a song—it is a celebration of the voices and contributions of older adults, championing their role within the community and showcasing the incredible benefits of group singing. From emotional well-being and cognitive stimulation to physical health and social connection, the benefits of choir singing are numerous and deeply impactful.
Dr Fiona Costa, PhD and Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Roehampton, and one of Voices of Hope’s amazing choir ambassadors, strongly believes in the uplifting power of music and has been researching effective ways to use music to help people with dementia in their daily lives, improving wellbeing, interaction and communication.. We sat down with her to get her thoughts on the benefits of projects like Meaningful Memories.
What are the psychological benefits of participating in a choir for elderly individuals?
There has been a growing amount of research into the benefits of singing in a choir for older people, including those with dementia. And the good news is that there are any number of positive outcomes. Studies consistently show that singing in a choir is associated with increases in wellbeing, quality of life and happiness. For many people, this can be attributed to the greater interest and purpose in life that it gives them. It is perhaps unsurprising therefore that symptoms of anxiety and depression have been shown to decrease with regular choir attendance. There is also evidence for fewer feelings of loneliness. It is not the singing alone that produces these effects; it is the singing with others that also has an impact. Each person can play their part; each person can be valued and accepted. For people living with dementia, it is a fantastic opportunity to take part in a ‘normal’ activity, where they can focus on what they can still do, not on what they can’t. Rather than having an identity associated with a particular condition or disability, they can be seen as a person who sings. This can do much to bolster their feelings of self-worth and improve confidence. These positive outcomes are not only experienced during choir sessions, but have been found to last long after it ends.
In what ways can learning and recalling, practising a song like this benefit the cognitive health of elderly choir members?
As well as the psychological benefits, there are a number of cognitive ones. One of these is an increase in engagement and attention. For older adults who feel that their skills and abilities are declining, singing in a choir can make a substantive difference – there is evidence to show that musical development and progress is entirely possible for older adults. With music, getting older is not all about decline. There are also improvements in memory. In some instances, this may be recalling the music and words of songs learnt long ago. In others, it may be the challenge of learning and memorising new music – not just melodies, but rhythms and words as well. For people living with dementia, a frequent finding is the improvement in verbal fluency, communication and cognitive reserve following a choir session.
What impact does regular social interaction, like that experienced in a choir, have on the overall well-being of elderly individuals?
As well as the benefits mentioned above, being a member of a choir gives opportunities for friendships to develop. Being amongst people who are all engaged with music and have a common aspiration to work and learn together can do much to develop a bond between people and improve social well being.
What are the physical health benefits associated with singing and being part of a choir for older adults?
The physical health benefits are many. At a general level, having an interest and taking part in an activity such as singing in a choir, does much to benefit overall physical health. This is evidenced by lower levels of stress and improvements in immune system functioning. Improvements such as these are supported by the findings from a two-year study. The researchers reported fewer visits to the doctor, fewer falls and less medication. This is not all. In 2017, the British Lung Foundation promoted the formation of ‘Singing for Lung Health’ groups across the UK. After three months they found that being in a choir was helpful in maintaining optimal lung function.
What are the physical health benefits associated with singing and being part of a choir for older adults?
The physical health benefits are many. At a general level, having an interest and taking part in an activity such as singing in a choir, does much to benefit overall physical health. This is evidenced by lower levels of stress and improvements in immune system functioning. Improvements such as these are supported by the findings from a two-year study. The researchers reported fewer visits to the doctor, fewer falls and less medication. This is not all. In 2017, the British Lung Foundation promoted the formation of ‘Singing for Lung Health’ groups across the UK. After three months they found that being in a choir was helpful in maintaining optimal lung function.
What advice would you give to family members or caregivers to encourage elderly individuals to participate in community projects like this?
There are clearly myriad ways in which singing in a choir can benefit older adults. There are also benefits to family members and caregivers. For example, where there are instances of improved mood or less apathy, better communication or improved memory, these changes can help in easing the care load, or making it less burdensome. Where there are opportunities for carers to join the choir as well, it can become a shared positive experience, one to enjoy together and then talk about during the week. If an older adult is reluctant to join a choir, encourage them to try it once and go with them.
Meaningful Memories seeks to inspire and encourage others to get involved in group singing and creative activities. By showcasing the benefits of choir participation, we hope to mobilise community support for the well-being of older adults. The project is about more than just one song—it’s about building a community that recognizes and celebrates the value of its older members. As the song takes shape and is shared with the world, the hope is that it will inspire others to recognize the incredible value of older adults and the transformative power of group singing. Through the Meaningful Memories project, older people are not just choir members—they are creators, storytellers, and essential contributors to the fabric of their communities.
Written by Rebecca Reji
With thanks to our funders, The Foyle Foundation
Composing Christmas Cheer
Crafting a Song for Older People's Choirs
Posted: 31/10/2024
Sharing and spreading the wonder of singing in a choir was one of the main reasons Voices of Hope conceived a project like Meaningful Memories. This sentiment was shared by one of our wonderful ambassadors, Scottish award-winning Composer Joanna Gill, published by Universal Editions. Her numerous works of note include a commission by His Majesty King Charles III to write a song in the Doric language as a dedication to Her Majesty Queen Camilla to be sung at the Honours of Scotland service in 2023 at St Giles Cathedral. Her music has been performed by a variety of prestigious ensembles including the BBC Singers, London Symphony Chorus and Orchestra, and in multiple venues such as The Royal Albert Hall, the Barbican, Hampton Court Palace, and Canterbury Cathedral. Joanna is the composer of Voices of Hope choirs’ first original song Coming Home, created in partnership with our older choir members to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2023. (You can listen to the song here).
Both Joanna and Voices of Hope are aligned in our purpose of using projects like this to spread joy in the community through music, so who better to compose the music for this project than Joanna? We wanted to tell you all about her experience making the music for Meaningful Memories so we sat down with her to hear her thoughts.
Was there any specific aspect of this project that drew you to it?
Music is a very powerful tool, and singing in a choir has been scientifically proven to bring many health benefits. One of those benefits is the power to bring a sense of belonging, the feeling of solidarity and oneness. So when I was asked to write a song about people’s memories of Christmas that would bring together a group of choirs of all standards, sizes and particularly the elderly, I was really drawn to a project with such potential to help increase people’s wellbeing, bringing joy and wholeness.
How did you approach making the music for this project?
I started by reading through the words a few times, which were so beautifully put together by members of the choirs, then took some time at the piano trying out a few musical ideas. I knew the chorus would need to be easy enough to sing and interesting enough to stand out and be memorable, so I started ‘Stars are brightly shining…’ with the idea of the melody travelling down the scale one note at a time making it feel comfortable in the voice for the singers. Adding syncopated rhythm to the phrase ‘sparkle like the snow’ helped those words to generally ‘sparkle’, and I also added some echoes on ‘O Holy Night’ to create a sense of night time carol singers in the background. You can’t help but add a few ‘ahhhs’ in the choral harmonies as well, to give it that warm Christmas feeling!
Did you face any challenges while composing the music?
Yes there was a lot of pressure to make sure the song was singable, upbeat and memorable. To make the song accessible to older singers I also had to be very careful to make sure that the rhythms weren’t too tricky to sing, that the pitches of the notes were not too high and the intervals easy enough for them to sing. Sometimes I would find a great melody but knew that it would be more of a challenge so I took a few attempts to scale it down to get something that is comfortable for the singers.
Were there any musical techniques or styles you chose specifically to match the theme of Christmas?
Yes I was really keen to create a catchy chorus that would leave people singing it. I wanted to use instruments that felt upbeat and associated with Christmas – so adding percussion like glockenspiel and kit with a jazzy dominant solo saxophone felt like a good combo for a Christmas song.
What was it like working with the choir during the recording sessions?
The choirs were all completely different sizes and abilities and this required a bit more work to get a good consistent level across them all. The hardest challenge was making sure everyone came off at the right beat, as even one person holding onto a longer note would come across in the recording. This was particularly harder in the choir with dementia, but they really rose to the challenge and eventually we got a take! We also had to explain why we were dressing up for Christmas in the middle of June, and that was hard for them to understand.
What was your favourite part of the composing process?
Once I had the melody line that felt right, I really enjoyed working on the orchestration to enhance it; in this instance adding live saxophone and percussion to help it drive forward. Getting to write for musicians you know is also a favourite part of the writing knowing they will add their own unique ‘sparkle’ to the song!
What was the most rewarding part of being involved in this project?
The most rewarding part for me was watching the singer’s excitement in getting to record a Christmas single. You could tell that the choirs had put so much energy into the performance and were singing with such enthusiasm (not to mention in the middle of summer) so it was a real joy to witness their enjoyment and sense of achievement. I think it’s wonderful to have so many elderly choirs who meet weekly, participating in such a meaningful project and providing them with a sense of purpose and achievement in a society where they can sometimes otherwise be forgotten.
What do you hope people will feel or think when they hear this song?
I hope that the song will bring a smile to those who listen to it, and not because of the song itself, but because of those who are singing it! It’s a wonderful project bringing elderly people together, sharing memories and creating a sense of joy and oneness.
Through thoughtful composition, careful attention to the abilities of the singers, and a shared sense of community, Joanna was really able to fulfil the goal of creating music that was memorable and everlasting, as well as uplift the spirits of both those who sing the song and those who listen to it. Stay tuned for our next blog which highlights the importance of projects like this for physical and psychological well being with insights from one of our experts.
Written by Rebecca Reji
With thanks to our funders, The Foyle Foundation
Crafting a Chorus of Memories
Behind the Lyrics of a Community Christmas Song
Posted: 15/10/2024
Carols are one of many things that make Christmas such a special holiday. Many people will have a memory of standing in church with a hot drink clutched in their hands, singing along to the many, many Christmas carols, at least once in their lives. Given the richness of memories attached to carolling and singing at Christmas, we thought, why not create a song made up from all the Christmas memories that people hold? Imagine a Christmas song that is a tapestry of the heartfelt stories of the elderly, a community of people with a wealth of memories that deserved to be heard. That’s the magic behind Meaningful Memories, a heartwarming project that aims to bring the cherished memories of older people in our community to the forefront. The first step to bringing this project to reality was to actually reach out to the older members in our communities and talk to them to collect their stories.
Sarah and Rhiannon set out to do this across SW London and Surrey; gathering the experiences of participants as part of the charity’s Creative Arts mission. They discuss below how it all culminated in the song that the world gets to hear in December. “Many discussions with participants revolved around childhood—both from their own and the special moments they created for children in their lives as adults,” Rhiannon recalled.
Sarah and Rhiannon wanted to incorporate as many memories as possible, but with over fifty contributors it wasn’t easy! So they sought out overarching themes that captured the essence of what Christmas meant to the participants. The song ultimately grew out of this theme of childhood wonder, combined with sensory memories like the glow of Christmas lights. “The idea of magic, surprise, and mystery was central to what people remember most fondly about the holiday season.”
For Sarah and Rhiannon it was important that the song not only reflected memories but also captured the spirit the choirs wanted to share. “They were very clear that they wanted listeners to feel uplifted, to feel that the choirs genuinely wished them a Merry Christmas as they listened,” they emphasised. And so, they crafted lyrics that celebrated the magic of Christmas, from twinkling lights to the excitement of unwrapping gifts, always with a sense of awe and joy that resonated deeply with the choir members. One memory in particular sparked a wave of inspiration: “A participant spoke about how, as adults, we should never lose our sense of ‘awe and wonder’,” Rhiannon shared. “That idea really became the bedrock of the song. It made us reflect on all the other stories of surprise, of mystery, and of the sparkle that Christmas brings.”
Sarah and Rhiannon also wanted to make sure that the lyrics truly resonated with choir members. “While we couldn’t include every specific memory, there were so many commonalities—whether it was gifts under the tree or in a stocking, the joy of unwrapping presents remained the same,” they explained. By focusing on shared feelings of excitement, awe, and joy, they tried to ensure that the choir members’ experiences were represented well.
However, trying to make sure that everyone’s memories were represented in the song came with a challenge – that the song couldn’t be too wordy. Since our choir members are older and several were facing living with dementia, they had to be mindful of crafting lyrics that would be easy to learn and sing. It became a process of editing, reshuffling and discarding some lyrics and ideas, but also building on ideas and bringing in new perspectives. Ultimately it was a really enjoyable process for both of them. “There were just lots of fun moments where we would have an idea we wanted to include but didn’t quite know how, so we’d be bouncing ideas back and forth and really trying to solve that puzzle together,” Rhiannon recalls.
While the project’s scope is vast—reaching audiences through recordings and performances—the lyric-writing process held particular significance for Sarah and Rhiannon. “Being recipients of such beautiful memories and stories was an honour, we had a real sense of wanting to do justice to those memories for our participants.” Rhiannon shared a lovely moment where both of them sat down for the first meeting and realised that they were working together to create something meaningful – reflective of their participants’ contributions. There was no judgement in any suggestion. This helped them feel safe in a creative dynamic of songwriting together.
As the project progressed, the positive feedback from choir members was the ultimate reward. “It’s been wonderful to hear how much they love certain lines or how the words make them feel,” they shared. “It really shows that the song reflects their experiences and captures the spirit of what Meaningful Memories is all about.”
Through this unique project, Sarah and Rhiannon have created more than just a song—they’ve woven together memories, dreams, and the magic of Christmas, sharing it not only with the choir members but with a wider community who will soon get to experience the heartwarming result. In the end, Meaningful Memories stands as a testament to the power of collaboration, the beauty of storytelling, and the joy of shared music.And while the lyrics were shaped by the memories collected from the participants, it was Joanna, our composer’s brilliant musical composition that brought the song to life. Stay tuned for our next blog, where we’ll dive into her incredible process of crafting the music behind the melody.
Written by Rebecca Reji
With thanks to our funders, The Foyle Foundation
From Memories to Music: Launching Meaningful Memories
Creating Music from Memories with Voices of Hope
Posted: 03/10/2024
Voices of Hope, true to its name, has championed the initiative of spreading hope to individuals for nearly five years now. Through our choirs, the Active Breathing Course, BRITE Box, Community Cooking, Women’s Hubs and several other successful initiatives, we have been able to support those who are ‘at-risk’ to thrive by providing fantastic community-based projects to many vulnerable communities. Through our partnerships with other organisations we have been able to reach more people than ever before.
Voices of Hope stemmed from a passion to spread the joy of choral music. We have become committed to advancing the education of the public in all arts. An example of this is our Active Breathing Course (ABC) where participants report a 96.1% improvement in breathing capacity. We also offer songwriting and keyboard lessons to help people pursue their love for music making. Over the years, we have been able to make music much more accessible to the community through our choirs, which are at the heart of Voices of Hope.
The choirs we run, where communities come together to spread the joy of singing, have been extremely popular. A key focus has been to bring together those who may be at a social disadvantage or facing long term physical or mental health issues. We are truly passionate about communities singing together, using choirs as a vehicle to help people feel uplifted, fulfilled, and valued. In our pursuit to continue to spread this joy, we developed the Meaningful Memories project.
In an initiative that harmonises music, memory, and community, we are so thrilled to announce this project. We have collaborated with several care homes and community centres to bring the joy of singing to elderly members through choirs that Voices of Harmony runs. Working with centre choirs for older people, including Whiteley Village, Cobham Voices, and Spelthorne Community Choir, we sat down for a conversation with the elderly members. What came from those conversations was a beautiful recollection of the most precious and meaningful childhood Christmas memories that touched our hearts. Over the course of a year, we were able to take these memories and craft a song that we hope encapsulates all the emotions and meaning attached to them. Our in-house Creative Arts team and collaborative partners like composer Joanna Gill worked together to compose, arrange and conduct rehearsals and produce the song. We worked with the choirs to record and perform this song. The single will be recorded, mixed and mastered by local music school, Melody Create.
This partnership and collaboration was very important to us because it not only brings in professional expertise but also ensures that all the work and production is of the highest quality. It gives our elderly community a chance to collaborate with professionals to create the best possible piece of work that retains the essence of all the original memories that were shared with us. This ensures that they retain the ownership of the song and gives them an opportunity they might not have had access to before.
This project aims to be more than just about creating a song. For Voices of Hope, it is about bringing to the forefront the rich tapestry of memories shared by our elderly community members. In a sad reality where their age can isolate them from the rest of society, we wanted to highlight their stories, experiences, skills and voices to remind all of us of their invaluable contributions they are still able to make! We aimed to facilitate a memorable experience where they feel like the stars, and give them a chance to relive Christmas from their childhood.
Having a hand in the performance and recording, and being able to hear the final song, would contribute to the sense of achievement, community and pride in the hearts and minds of our elderly community. They can share this achievement with each other, family and loved ones when the final song is released on music streaming platforms, YouTube, and CDs, during the holiday season. Making the song accessible to such a wide audience ensures that the voices of our older community members are heard far and wide.
While the main outcome of the project is to release a Christmas single, our participating elderly community has a lot to gain. Our drive to bring this project to life was further fueled by scientific research that pointed to all the physical, cognitive and emotional benefits such a project would bring to the well-being of older adults. Further, participation in creative and cultural activities is essential for the mental, emotional and physical wellbeing of older adults. By engaging in this creative process, we hope that all elderly participants will not only create something beautiful but also experience the joy and therapeutic benefits associated with it.
The Meaningful Memories project is more than just a project. It is a celebration of community, creativity, and the enduring spirit of our older generations. We invite you to join us in this uplifting project, to listen to the voices of our elders, and to share in the joy of their memories and music. Together, we can create something truly special this holiday season.
Written by Rebecca Reji
With thanks to our funders, The Foyle Foundation
