Together in Sound Saffron Walden

Saffron Hall and Anglia Ruskin University are pleased to be working in partnership to provide the opportunity for people living with dementia and their carers to attend a music therapy group.

Together in Sound music therapy groups aim to bring the power of music to those living with dementia. We’ll focus on joint music-making and listening with a goal of supporting communication, relationships, and increasing quality of life through a collaborative group process. There will be opportunities to sing, play and listen to live music together, with weekly sessions led by music therapists and visiting professional musicians from Saffron Hall. The 10-week groups will conclude with an informal sharing and celebration with friends and family toward the end of the 10 weeks.

In 2020/21 Together in Sound participants and the team worked with filmmaker Holly Cassidy to create Together in Sound: A journey with Dementia - this film gives an overview of the project

The journal articles below were written in collaboration with the Together in Sound team from CIMTR and Saffron Hall Trust. Click on the blue links below to read the article. Articles will open in a new page.

Approaches: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Music Therapy
First published 19 Dec 2020
Title and link: Together in Sound: Music therapy groups for people with dementia and their companions – moving online in response to a pandemic

Journal of Music, Health and Wellbeing
First published September 2021
Title and link: Still Together in Sound: narratives from online music therapy with people living with dementia and their companions during lockdown.

Spring 2025

We are currently welcoming applications to join Together in Sound Saffron Walden in Spring 2025. Once we have received your application a member of the Together in Sound team will be in touch. Whilst we hope to accommodate all who apply, if the project is oversubscribed we may have to hold a waiting list.

Applicants will be invited to a taster session in January 2025 , at the Salvation Army Hall, Abbey Lane, Saffron Walden.

Together in Sound Sessions will run on Fridays between 7th February 2025 and 11th April 2025.

Times
There are currently three groups:
10-11.30am, 12-1pm, 2-3.30pm

Please make sure you tell us your availability on the Together in Sound application form.

Where
The taster sessions and weekly sessions will take place at the Salvation Army Hall, Abbey Lane, Saffron Walden, CB10 1AG. The sharing session will take place at Saffron Hall.

Who
The groups are for anyone living with a diagnosis of dementia and their main carer, friend or relative who is consistently able to accompany. The groups are run by a registered Music Therapist and Music Therapy students from Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research, at Anglia Ruskin University.