Singing and Mental Health Sandpit Day
Ideas explored: music for health and wellbeing
Exploring practice and research into Singing and Mental Health
On 8 January 2020 we were delighted to welcome over 60 researchers, singing practitioners, commissioners and policy makers working in the field of singing and mental health to a ‘Sandpit Day’ at Snape Maltings.
The event, hosted by MARCH Singing and Mental Health Special Interest Group in partnership with Snape Maltings and the Royal College of Music, was co-presented by Katherine Zeserson, Dr Dave Camlin and Phillipa Reive, and included presentations, workshops and facilitated discussions between professionals working in academic, arts and health contexts. The aims of the Sandpit event were to
- share experiences and research findings;
- explore connections and contradictions;
- consider potential ideas for future investigation / action;
- develop plans for advancing those ideas.
The day was underpinned by a shared commitment to create a common reference point of knowledge surrounding both research and practice in this field. This be be used to frame future research enquiries into the impacts of singing on mental health both as a community asset, and as a clinical intervention for specific health challenges.
The day was punctuated by group singing activities led by practitioners Lea Cornthwaite and Nicola Wydenbach from the Mind and Soul Choir and vocal group Mouthful.
Presentations
KEYNOTE: March Network (Dr Evangelos Himondes)
KEYNOTE: Singing and Mental Health: Connecting Theory and Practice (Dr Dave Camlin, RCM)
Seagull and Chameleon – adult participation in community singing (Kathryn MacDonald, More Music in Morecambe)
Women in Criminal Justice (Catherine Birch, York University)
Voice Fear and the Sonic Environment (Nina Perry, independent artist/researcher)
Melodies for Mums (Hannah Dye, Breathe Arts)
Infant Directed Singing (Helen Mottram, Hertfordshire NHS Trust)
Singing and Mental Health measurement scale (Yoon Irons/David Sheffield, Derby University)
Trauma Informed Group Practice with adults (Janet Swan, Natural Voice Network)
Company Voice (Dr Amy Mallett, Snape Maltings)
Primal Singing Integrative (Maria Soriano, independent practitioner/researcher)
Music for Recovering from Grief (Suresh Thapaliya, psychiatrist)
Icelandic Singing School (Gunnar Gudbjörnsson, Principal)
Young People and Mental Health (Cindy-Jo Morison, Cumbria, Tyne and Wear, Northumberland NHS Trust)
Trauma Informed 1 to 1 Practice with Young People (Emily Foulkes, independent practitioner/researcher)
Sing Up Foundation (Michelle James)
Read delegate Mary Ryan’s account of her difficult relationship with singing and her experiences of the MARCH Sandpit day
Illustrations by Simon Wild