Our Music Club provides free music sessions for adults living with dementia and their households or supporters, and is delivered in collaboration with Bristol Dementia Wellbeing Service.
Our Music Club uses music to improve quality of life of participants by making music together. Supported by three professional musicians, sessions provide a joyful and connective opportunity for people to be together in the present.
The group meets at Filwood in one of Bristol’s most deprived communities, Knowle West, with second group in Easton that began in January 2025. Participants typically join via referral, and we also collaborate with Age UK, Singing for the Brain and Alzheimer’s UK.
What happens in the sessions
Our Music Club is led by three musicians who form a ‘mini-band’. Sessions start as a coffee morning with refreshments, and then move into an hour of music making. The club invites people to make music together in the present moment with activities such as:
- Physical and vocal warm ups
- Learning new songs
- Music appreciation
- Improvisations
- Conducting exercises
My confidence has definitely got a lot better since I’ve started coming… and the main thing is the friends which I’ve made through music. It’s such an easy way to get to know people.”
Our Music Club member
The impact we make
Community, confidence and wellbeing
Jane, a member of Our Music Club, completed written accounts after each week along with her daughter Sophie and the session leaders to reflect on wellbeing and their experience of the session.
May 2022 The leaders noticed Jane has had improved relationships within the group, going from being sat on her own, feeling confused and agitated, and asking questions like ”what are we doing here”, to interacting with other participants, including touching and giving cuddles.
October 2022 Sophie said she’d like to be able to access the songs from Our Music Club to play them at home with her mother, who has been so engaged.
October 2022 Jane was more settled in mood, laughing throughout the session. The session leaders celebrated her when she had a go at conducting.
October 2022 Jane was cheerful, participating and really enjoying the session today. She had a special moment of connection and tenderness with her daughter, after Sophie said that the melody reminded her of her dad. Jane put her hand affectionately and calmly onto Sophie, and said ”mummy is always here”.
November 2022 Jane was now engaging lots with the other participants and had a brilliant moment conducting them – demonstrating a real increase in confidence and ease.
January 2023 Jane showed empathy and care towards a new friend in the session.
Short – long term impacts
We observed the following impacts in our participants as a result of attending Our Music Club:
Short term:
- Positive mood changes after each session
Medium term:
- Word use has increased
- Interactions become more joyful, at ease and relaxed
Long term:
- Activity – participants joining more clubs or picking up forgotten hobbies
- Independence – participants travelling by taxi unaccompanied
Jane’s story
Jane’s story
Jane is an older woman with dementia. For month’s Jane suffered from fluctuating moods. Being a member of Our Music Club allowed her to feel happy, relaxed, joyful and at peace – it gave her back her confidence and helped her connect with loved ones.
Get involved
Sessions
Sessions are free, registration is required
Thursdays, weekly
11:00 – 12:30
Locations
15 – 19 Filwood Broadway, Bristol, BS4 1JL
Easton Community Centre, Kilburn St, Easton, Bristol BS5 6AW
Get involved
If you feel you, a family member or a person you support would benefit from joining Our Music Club sessions, please contact us for more information and to sign up to the regular weekly group.
Registration is required for this group to keep everyone safe.
community@bristolbeacon.org
0117 204 7103
Project partners and funders
Our Music Club is run partnership with the Bristol Dementia Wellbeing Service and supported by The Anchor Society, Grateful Society, St. Monica’s Trust and Paul Hamlyn Foundation.
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