Music in care: students Shamáti and Jaron play a tailored home concert

Just before Jaron and Shamáti left for the nursing home where Sharon* lives, we asked them why they are participating in this project and what they expect from it. "I have performed in nursing homes several times, and it is something I really enjoy doing," Jaron explains. "You see people flourish, even though they are often in difficult situations. They recognize melodies or sounds, and they feel that for a moment, they don't have to do anything but purely enjoy the moment. This is also true for Sharon*, the client for whom we are performing the concert today. She is in need of care and resides in a nursing home due to a brain hemorrhage. As a result, her cognition no longer functions as it used to. I can imagine this is frustrating, especially when it happens at an age when you should still be in the prime of your life. Her perception of the world has completely changed, but she still enjoys listening to beautiful music. The pieces we have prepared have been enriched with sounds from nature because she mentioned that she used to love walking. We have also built in moments of soundscapes between the pieces so that the concert is tailored to how she can best process it."

A tailored concert

"Sharon* indicated that she used to play the violin and piano herself, and that listening to music brings her a lot of positivity and peace. Additionally, she mentioned that she greatly enjoys the sound of the harp. I can, of course, serve her very well with that," Shamati explains, who studies the harp as her main instrument within the Classical Music program. "In total, we play four pieces, alternating with soundscapes."

Activation

"When you are younger than most residents of a nursing home, I can imagine it sometimes being boring. Such a tailored concert is a great experience for Sharon, and I hope it also gives her a little push. That positivity can also lead to some activation. And that's what I hope to achieve for her," says Jaron.

Collaboration between Music in Education and Classical Music

"What we can do for Sharon* is incredibly beautiful, and we are grateful for the opportunity. It is also a learning process for us because we both follow completely different programs and collaborate on this project. I myself study Classical Music, and Jaron studies Music in Education," Shamati explains. "I have learned from Jaron how to quickly and easily come up with something, whereas I – due to my background in Classical Music – can sometimes get lost in technical and theoretical challenges." "I have mainly learned the opposite from Shamati," says Jaron. "Due to her craftsmanship and all the hours she invests in her studies and instrument, you can see and hear that it pays off. She is truly a master of her instrument, and I admire that and am also a bit jealous of it."

In the moment

After Shamati and Jaron returned from the concert with Sharon, we asked them about their experience. Shamati says, "At the first note, she immediately teared up. She found it very exciting that we came, and we later heard that she had been worried about it. The first note really brought her into 'the now.' It also affected me to see that. I remember thinking during my solo: 'Even if I play a wrong note now, it doesn't matter for a moment. It's all about the feeling and the connection now.' In summary, we found it particularly successful and would do it again tomorrow".

*Sharon is not the real name of the client. It is known to the editors