Shake, Rattle and Roll!
London Symphony Orchestra
The LSO visited The Royal London Children’s Hospital to deliver an exciting programme of stories, songs and rhymes to our youngest patients and their parents. Early years music specialist Vanessa King and musicians from the London Symphony Orchestra lead interactive singing workshops throughout children’s areas.
They worked with parents, carers and premature babies on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, singing international lullabies. Working with the Royal London Hospital’s Play Team, they brought action songs and nursery rhymes to young children with gastroenterology problems and young children with cancer, including the Retinoblastoma clinic.
Outcomes and evaluation
Being in hospital is a stressful experience. Although intensive care can be overwhelming, parents are actively encouraged and supported to participate in their baby's care, but there are very few opportunities for normal, non-medical activities. Since the first Vital Arts music intervention on the Unit in January 2013, nursing and medical staff have shown increasing support for an on-going music programme.
Over five weeks the musicians saw 61 infants and children. Approximately 10 of these came to every session. Vanessa was joined each week by a guest musician from the orchestra, who each brought in their instrument. These included: the violin, the cello, the double base, trombone and flute. Sessions were divided into group work, and one to one bedside sessions for infants and children prioritised by clinical staff as those most in need. The group session consisted of 8-12 babies and their mothers or carers.
This project was fully inclusive, building relationships with many of our regular patients, both those under five years old and those with profound and multiple learning disabilities as well as their families. They worked in groups and one-to-one at children’s cots, incubators and bedsides.
“Whilst in hospital this time our son has found great pleasure listening to the musicians along with interactive singing and instrumentation with Vanessa, who was excellent at reaching out to and involving as many of the children as she could… He absolutely loved the music sessions, becoming animated, and interacting in ways that he just hasn’t done for a long time. Being so close to the music, seeing the instruments and being gently and gradually encouraged to take part has been the best form of therapy for him. As his parents too, seeing his reaction and really enjoying the sessions ourselves, has really helped us through some difficult times here.”
Parent of 4 year old patient
