Organising a Musical Tea can be fun and easy.
If you’ve ever run a pot-luck lunch or dinner, you already know how to run a Musical Tea.
Instead of asking guests to bring something to share in a meal, ask them to bring a favourite song or piece of music for everyone to listen to.
But first, try the idea yourself with a person living with cognitive impairment or dementia. See how it might work for you.
Benefits of listening to your ‘own’ playlist
If you can manage to follow the Scottish accent - and I know some folk can’t, no shame - take a look at this short YouTube clip, https://youtu.be/bo_70J78LG8 . Several PLWD talk enthusiastically about how they use their personal playlists and what this means for them.
There’s now a massive amount of credible research that confirms these anecdotal reactions.
Listening to music can improve a person’s mood and lift depression. Think of dance music that seems to get our feet tapping. This makes music a useful medical intervention that can reduce a person’s dependence on drugs that may have unexpected and unwanted side effects.
Listening to music can increase our sense of togetherness. We’ve probably all heard, or at least seen in movies, families gathered around a piano for a weekly singalong.
It has also been found that listening to the ‘right’ music can bring back feelings, memories and even abilities previously thought to have been lost.
Here’s one way to run a Musical Tea
- Set a date and time for the Musical Tea: one and a half hours around afternoon teatime is good.
- Invite a few people: 5 or 6 is enough. 3 or 4 may be easier to manage as some may come with a friend or carer.
- Explain that each person is to bring a favourite piece of music, most likely a song (preferably a piece that brings good memories that they can talk about with the other guests).
- When the guests arrive, sit them down around a table, offer tea and biscuits and play the music they have brought.
- When everyone’s music has been played, thank them for coming and for the music they shared and wish them a safe journey home.
Let me know how it went.
For More Information
Take a look at Playlist for Life, www.playlistforlife.co.uk, a UK music and dementia charity that uses the music of a person’s life to keep them connected to themselves and their loved ones throughout their dementia journey.
At Playlist For Life you can
- Download a free Musical Tea Resource Pack. https://www.playlistforlife.org.uk/register-musical-tea/
- Find extra activities, decorations and recipes https://www.playlistforlife.org.uk/musical-tea-resources/
- Check out additional suggestions for hosting a dementia friendly event. https://www.playlistforlife.org.uk/hosting-a-dementia-friendly-musical-tea/
Of course, it’s entirely up to you to decide what fits your situation best.
Whatever you decide to do, I’d suggest that the focus be on enjoying music in the company of others and doing something that is easy for you, the organiser.
How did you go?
Please share your comments and questions below.