Naked Voice Facilitators Association

I recently returned from a very inspiring conference on singing for well being in Germany. This took place at a psychiatric hospital, where Wolfgang the director of singing hospitals has been working with a singing group for several years.

Singing hospitals is now a growing international initiative to encourage Singing in health care settings, but it grew initially from a small group in this hospital.

We heard from many different speakers, including the manager of the hospital, whose open door attitude and genuine desire to empower patients and support singing hospitals was very encouraging.
Steven Clift from the Sydney de Haan centre, for research into the potential value of active participation in group singing for wellbeing and health also spoke about various group initiatves and projects here in the Uk, including 'sing your heart' out and 'sing for the brain'-for people with dementia. Also check out the Aarya Foundation who are working in association with Unesco, collecting evidence on the benefits of singing for well being. Stevens message was really that the more we can show how beneficial singing is, the more funding will be made available and the more doors in hospitals etc will open to this, incorporating singing as part of a recovery program.
We heard from a music therapist who had interviewed many participants in singing hospitals for her research project and a lady who had set up a project at a childrens rescue centre, who after initial difficulty winning childrens interest found a rapper to work with!

Perhaps the most inspiring was to experience the group singing in the hospital chapel. In the group are patients, staff and local residents, also several ex-patients who come back because they get so much out of it. Wolfgang calls it a medicine of happiness and belonging and it is this integration that is so healing for people
It was a truly fun, joyful and enlightening experience, I could feel great trust within the group and a complete acceptance and I really have an understanding now of how healing this group experience is. There were some very touching moments seeing the love and support in the group. I feel there is some common ground there with the core naked voice values.

I also offered a Naked Voice workshop, which was very well received by the 50 participants and also had a strong impact on some. I was reminded of the depth and power of this work.

I was curious as to how appropriate some of the Naked voice practices would be when working with patients with mental health issues. As it turned out some of the patients did attend my workshop (although it was mostly music therapists and others working in similar fields) and seemed very touched by the work. Wolfgang also felt some of the practices could be very beneficial.

Its was great a opportunity to connect and build bridges and encouraging to see such a web of Singing growing and reaching into healthcare settings and genuinely improving the quality of peoples lives.

If anyone feels inspired to get in touch or knows of any individuals, groups or hospitals who may be interested please get in touch with me, Emily. beyournote@yahoo.co.uk