Children:


'My Song' was a truly gratifying four-month sound and song project held weekly at the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital for Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust. This exciting award-winning hospital with its unique design lent itself so well to the use of sound and I was able to take the project into the Out Patient department as well as the wards. 

“I really feel the music for children is a great experience. For the poorly children it seems to have a calming and relaxing effect on them. For the children who are feeling better they join in with the songs – dancing and clapping and really enjoying themselves. The music drifting up the hallway also has a positive effect on the staff and it is great to hear – we also join in at times!” Ward Sister

Our aims of this project were:
- To listen to what children were saying through the music and to support parents and staff.
- To use songs as opportunities for patients to express and release emotions and help alleviate pain. As well as a distraction, a boost to confidence and a way of having fun.
- To provide a safe space to actively encourage children, families and hospital team to discover and share together their sound without worrying about having a ‘good’ voice or ‘getting it right’. 
- To use improvisation to stimulate or to calm, according to need. 
- To use breath and body loosening-up activities, exploring rhythm and melody, thereby promoting a feeling of connectedness as a team for patients, families and carers.
- To use sounds - for example, a range of percussion instruments and vocal backing support. Also Tibetan singing bowls and guitar to lend support and help confidence-building.

My thanks to Steve Geliot, Arts Coordinator, BSUHT

“Consultant Paediatrician Dr Kamal Patel reported that a long term patient made a massive improvement the morning after Lou Beckerman sang to him. She also helped the patient to express his emotions in a positive way through music.” Arts Advisory Group “The benefits of these sessions can be seen in how the children recover” Play Service Manager “It’s different and grabs your child’s attention and imagination”  Parent

For the Children’s Country Holiday Fund I have run singing workshops as part of a holiday activity programme for severely disadvantaged children. We had enormous fun in these sessions. And music with kids 'too cool for school' had a wonderfully unifying effect.

    Contact Lou