Nottingham University: One of the sponsors was the Room 217 Foundation from Canada. The title of Gary’s talk was ‘Taking an improvisational attitude to music’s help’. He described how how music can foster second-by-second change (of energy, mood, intensity, movement, focus). Music practitioners can use improvisational methods in ways that create connection with (and between) people in challenging circumstances in care settings.
While there, Gary also did a research workshop with Dr Orii McDermott of Nottingham University’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences – ‘Music therapy research in later life care settings: how can it help practitioners?’. So much research is being done now, but we still have to work hard to make sure that it reaches practitioners, who are the conduit for putting research into everyday contexts and in ways that further inform and develop the research. It’s a good sign that conferences where researchers and practitioners can meet – like this one at Nottingham – are happening, and happening more often.
Care for Music 