At Alina Orchestra, we see ourselves as a community ‘Resource’. We believe that to be part of a community, we need to serve the needs of that community. We provide a dedicated programme of outreach where ever it is needed locally, which currently includes:
- Working with local Care Homes in Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire to provide support to those living with neurological disorders with a bespoke programme of workshops which feature music, song, communication and interaction, designed to improve the quality of life of residents and support the valuable work of care home staff.
- Provide musical opportunities which support local Music Hubs and their students. These include Side-by-Side ‘showcase’ events which combine orchestra and hub musicians for a special day of music-making and performance, plus a GCSE set work event to support those students taking music exams with a live event featuring many syllabus pieces of music.
- ‘Band in a Van’ which is a series of small, interactive events for those members at the heart of the community that, for whatever reason, do not have access to classical music and its many benefits via traditional concerts. These events take place at local libraries, Family & Children’s Centres and Fun Days and feature music from tv, movies and musical. The audience is actually part of the event. They are great fun!
- Working with various individuals, groups and organisations to bring live music to enhance their events. This includes weddings, special celebrations and exciting concerts of music from some of the diverse cultures represented in the community.
The Alina Orchestra ladies are incredibly popular on all floors here at Milton Court, as they adapt to every resident’s preferences and needs. The residential residents on ground floor love the interactive, sing-along aspects, having chats with Sharon and Rachel and requesting songs for them to learn for next time. The residents with dementia love the group sessions as they can recognise the music choices and can get up and dance! And then the 1-1’s are brilliantly popular with residents and relatives.
Sharon and Rachel go from room to room on our nursing floor, playing a couple of songs on request for each resident. These are the residents who don’t like to leave their rooms so do not often get live music, let alone a bassoon! It is always the highlight of their week, especially as the ladies can play a variety of styles. It helps to tackle loneliness, boredom and gives them something to discuss and reflect on. We are currently rotating them round the home, so each month the ladies visit a different floor. Sharon and Rachel remember the resident’s names and musical preferences which makes a big
difference.
Milton Court Care Home:
