Care home resident with dementia learns violin at the age of 85
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FirstPreviousNextLast Care home resident with dementia learns violin at the age of 85 30-Mar-17 Article By: Charley Walker 1223 An 85-year-old living with dementia has learnt to play the violin and taken part in her first live concert with a local community group.
Pearl Durrant with activities coordinator Fiona Pritchard
Pearl Durrant began playing the violin with Bournemouth University’s BUDDY orchestra in January this year as one of 20 players who are living with dementia in the community and their carers.
She is the only member who lives in full-time residential care.
Fiona Pritchard, activities coordinator at Colten Care’s Linden House where Mrs Durrant lives, has been accompanying the budding violinist to weekly rehearsals in the run-up to the concert.
She said: “We spoke with Pearl and her family about getting involved with the group because, although she hasn’t played an instrument before, she does love music.
“She always dances when we have an entertainer in and she was happy to give violin a go. She’s also very comfortable going out of the home. When we drive back to Linden House from the weekly practices, I’ve noticed that Pearl is reminiscing more, talking about her parents, husband and other memories.
“The experience of playing seems to enhance her thought processes. She has also really bonded with the other players so she’s getting a lot of out of it socially as well as musically.”
Weeks of practice culminated in a one-hour lunchtime performance at Bournemouth University’s Poole House atrium, where players performed pieces such as Ravel’s Bolero, Habanera from the Bizet opera Carmen and the theme tunes from Jaws, The Archers and Desert Island Discs, under the guidance of conductor and double-bass player Andy Baker.
Mrs Durrant described the performance as “great fun” while her daughter, who was in the audience for her mother’s performance, said: “It was fantastic to see mum playing music for the first time and having a great experience with such a lovely group.”
Mrs Durrant with conductor and double-bass player Andy Baker
The orchestra is part of BUDDY, an arts council-funded research project which began two years ago to gauge the extent to which people with dementia can learn something new.
Michelle O'Brien from the University’s Ageing and Dementia Research Centre said: “Everyone respects and supports one another and feels very much part of a group.
“Some may attend unsettled or not knowing what to expect but they leave looking and feeling happy. They have a sense of pride having expressed themselves by playing an instrument, clapping, humming, dancing or just listening.”
Mr Baker, who directed the orchestra with a flip-chart of basic notation, added: “We do a lot with percussion and repetition and Pearl is happy to try solos and is certainly exploring the instrument.
“It’s about the musical experience but there is also a big social and pastoral element too. Pearl always approaches us with a beaming smile. She wants to be part of the group.”
