In this podcast academic and clinical music therapists, musicians and friends Helen Odell-Miller and Penny Rogers discuss their life work – music therapy. They define and outline the varieties of music therapy, discuss their journey from training as musicians to studying music therapy and cognitive psychology (Penny) and psychodynamic psychotherapy (Helen). Penny talks about her clinical work in various settings and Helen her career at the forefront of research into the positive effects of music therapy (ameliorating conditions as varied as agitation in dementia to PTSD). They also talk about how their continuing musical practice in group settings (Helen singing, Penny cello) enriches their day-to-day lives and improves their professional practice.

Participants:

Helen Odell-Miller OBE, Professor Emeritus, Anglia Ruskin University; Founding Director of Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research; Chair of The Music Therapy Charity; Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts

https://www.aru.ac.uk/people/helen-odell-miller

Penny Rogers, music therapist; Deputy Director, Safeguarding & Public Protection at Devon Partnership NHS Trust; Trustee, British Association for Music Therapy; 'cellist.

https://www.bamt.org/bamt/people/penny-rogers

Stephen Brown, musician; composer; retired professor of neuropsychiatry

http://www.cornwallcomposers.com/stephen.htm

Resources and further reading:

Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy (CIMTR):

https://www.aru.ac.uk/cambridge-institute-for-music-therapy-research

British Association for Music Therapy

https://www.bamt.org/

Royal College of Psychiatrists Introductory Module at E-LEARNING hub:

https://elearninghub.rcpsych.ac.uk/products/Music_therapy-an_introduction

Some recent research papers:

Thompson, N et al.(2023). Investigating the impact of music therapy on two in-patient psychiatric wards for people living with dementia: retrospective observational study. BJPsych Open, 9(2), e42. doi:10.1192/bjo.2023.20

Odell-Miller, H et al.(2022). The HOMESIDE Music Intervention: A Training Protocol for Family Carers of People Living with Dementia. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education, 12(12), 1812-1832. Doi: 10.3390/ejihpe12120127

Odell-Miller, H., (2021) Embedding Music and Music Therapy in Care Pathways for People with Dementia in the 21st Century—a position paper. Music and Science. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F20592043211020424

Hsu MH et al.(2015). The impact of music therapy on managing neuropsychiatric symptoms for people with dementia and their carers: a randomised controlled feasibility study. BMC Geriatrics. 15:84 doi:10.1186/s12877-015-0082-4

Music: Opening and closing music to the opera 'Brainland', composed by Stephen Brown

Brainland the opera website: www.brainlandtheopera.co.uk

Sketch by KB.

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This is another in the Vital Spark series exploring facets of creativity with a range of artists and academics. In this conversation Italian director, actor and teacher Chiara D'Anna speaks about her work and creative process, beginning with images, physical and emotional atmosphere before involving words. We discuss her acting in film, particularly with Peter Strickland (Duke of Burgundy and Berberian Sound Studio) and her training and teaching in commedia dell’arte, an Italian tradition of theatre she outlines for us. We talk about her evolving one woman show and the differences in performing in Italian or English, particularly in relation to humour and comic timing. She also speaks about her major upcoming project. co-directing Strauss’ opera Ariadne auf Naxos in Budapest.

Participants:

Chiara D’Anna, director, actor, teacher and Commedia Dell’Arte specialist. https://www.chiaradanna.com/

Ken Barrett, artist and writer, retired neuropsychiatrist http://www.kenbarrettstudio.co.uk/

For more on commedia dell'Arte this is Chiara's YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@movementactortraining

Music: Prelude to the opera 'Brainland' composed by Stephen Brown.

Sketch by KB.

Brainland the opera website: www.brainlandtheopera.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Vital Spark’ is an occasional series delving into aspects of creativity. For this podcast Stephen Brown travelled to the far west of Cornwall for a conversation with novelist, screen writer and fellow cellist Patrick Gale. Patrick talks about his unusual childhood, his journey from musician and singer to becoming a successful writer, the life events that help enliven his novels and the research that underpins them. He speaks about his writing process, including the need to leave self behind and inhabit characters. Other aspects of the creative process are also touched upon and good editors get a mention. They discuss the similarity between composing music and writing to commission and, as a case in point, Patrick talks about his recent stage adaptation of his novel ‘Take Nothing With You’ and his hopes for a multipart screen adaptation of ‘A Town Called Winter’.

Participants:

Patrick Gale, novelist, screenwriter, playwright and musician https://galewarning.org/

Stephen Brown, musician, composer and retired neuropsychiatrist. http://cornwallcomposers.com/stephen.htm

Music: Prelude to the opera 'Brainland' composed by Stephen Brown.

Sketch by KB.

Brainland the opera website: www.brainlandtheopera.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.