Creative Play: music and song

Creative Play: Music & Song project
2023/4

Creative Play was two 12 weekly music sessions for mothers who were experiencing early/moderate symptoms of post natal depression. Some of these symptoms included:  feeling low, struggling with the pressures of being a mum, feeling anxious and/or easily overwhelmed. For those who have lost interest in the world around them, or who have feelings of guilt, hopelessness and self-blame.

Where?
The sessions took place in two children’s centres in Milton Keynes; The Robin’s Children’s Centre, Heelands and Little Owls Children Centre, Oxley Park.
Both spaces offered a welcoming environment for mothers and babies to feel comfortable and engage in the sessions.

What?
Over the 12 sessions a team of trained musicians supported participants to engage in singing and musical activities. They had the opportunity to learn new musical and singing skills in a caring, safe and secure environment. The sessions allowed participants to find connections with other mums going through similar experiences and find a new community of acceptance and understanding. The mothers were invited to bring their babies and children to be part of the musical activity but it was very clear from the beginning the activity was centred around the mother and an opportunity to support them.

The sessions consisted of an hour of singing and music intervention, 15 minute staggered arrival and departure time and 30 minutes to chat and enjoy a cup of tea/coffee and something sweet. We also implemented an open door policy where mothers could come and go when they pleased without pressure or judgement.

Outcomes:
Over the project we supported 13 mothers and their children and babies. Each mother attended the sessions for their own reasons.

We produced a short video of our work on the project, and you will hear feedback from the participants and project manager about attending these uplifting sessions:



Both groups worked towards writing their own songs that depicted their feelings and aspirations, 'Shine' and 'Hope'.

LYRICS - SHINE:

Give me time to dream,
time to dance,
time to heal.

Light blue open skies,
hummingbirds
yellow sun.

The door is always open,
Go and return,
Here at the centre
Go and return.

See yourself again,
time to sit,
time to learn,
Hear the wind through trees
laughing more
worry less

I am free to find adventure
new horizons there for me
Ready for a new adventure
Home is here
Home is here inside of me

LYRICS - HOPE:

Angels looking down on a new day
Hope is in the dusk
Little flowers blooming
Look, love is blooming, wo-oh

Stillness in the air, sparkling water
Summer evening rays
Letting go of yesterday
The unknown of a bright new day, wo-oh

Pre-chorus

Watch the world…..golden, golden
World asleep…..quiet, quiet
Watch the world…..golden, golden
Letting go…….

Chorus

It’ll be alright, you are not alone
Be at ease with yourself, be your own friend
Let the fire inside you burn brighter than around
Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground.

Repeat pre-chorus  

Repeat Verse 1


Summer Celebration
These songs were performed at our Summer Celebration that took place at the end of July. We invited stakeholders, the musicians and participants to come together and recreate the harmonious feelings of the room and celebrate the incredible outcomes the project achieved. Some of these outcomes included friendship building, new found confidence, ways to cope and support oneself when mental health challenges arise. Through ongoing reflection and check in’s the participants identified the sessions as being a ‘breath of fresh air’, ‘an anchor in their week, something they looked forward to’.

Participant feedback about the programme: “I gained new friendships and a new found confidence. The sessions were my happy play where I felt listened to. I could share my emotions and how I was feeling that day. I left feeling productive which helped me take on the rest of the day.”

Musician feedback about the programme: “I found delivering on this project to be extremely rewarding. From getting to know my fellow facilitators, to building relationships with our participants, it was an exceedingly enjoyable engagement.”

Project Manager, Georgia Tillery Randak feedback: ‘The Creative Play project was a pleasure to work on. I felt that my new found identity as a mother really helped and supported the work. I also found myself really needing the sessions myself at times and felt the benefits of the engagement in my own home life.’


The project was funded by Youth Music: Trailblazer Fund.


 

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