Addie keen continue live music project in Caithness and north Sutherland
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Multi-instrumentalist Addie Harper is keen to continue a project that has seen more than 200 free performances being given at care homes and daycare centres across the far north.
Addie, from Wick, was joined by more than 30 other musicians in various combinations over the course of a year-long project called North Coast Entertainment.
They put on regular shows throughout Caithness and north Sutherland, going to a total of 18 venues with a monthly visit to each. Feedback highlighted how the visits brought "joy and happiness" to people with dementia and had a "positive impact" on wellbeing.
The project was made possible by a one-off award of more than £30,000 from Creative Scotland and Addie is now hoping to attract funding from other sources to keep it going.
“I'd like to thank Creative Scotland for their help over the year," Addie said. "There have been over 30 musicians working on this.
"I feel that I've got the thing up and running, it's going well, and people seem to be happy with it.
"There was a great response. I've got a lot of lovely letters from the places saying they would like it to continue."
The musicians played a mix of styles, from Scottish traditional to country, and always tried to accommodate requests.
"If we didn't know it, we would make a point of learning it for next time when we came back," said Addie (59), who started playing violin at the age of five. "Most of it was instrumental but we did have singers along sometimes too.
"There were people who maybe hadn't spoken a word for a long time and they were singing the songs, remembering the words. It got them speaking.
"The carers were great – they got involved."
He added: "I'd like to thank Rachael Duff, education manager at Fèis Rois, for all her help and advice on getting the North Coast Entertainment project up and running."
The musicians visited some hospitals as well as care homes and daycare centres. They had to wear masks some of the time because of Covid rules.
Letters of support for the project included one from a daycare centre stating: "We have many service users who are living with dementia and the music brings them such joy and happiness. Other benefits we have found are that the visits have had a positive impact on everyone’s mood and wellbeing.
"Many service users have memory loss but it is amazing to watch and hear them singing along the words to the songs you play."
A letter from another daycare facility said: "These musical entertainment days have been a great success and are looked forward to by everyone.
"The majority of the people that attend have dementia and the therapeutic effects of music are well known. We do appreciate your visits and long may they continue."
A care home manager wrote to say the sessions had enriched the lives of residents and staff and had "generated many hours of reminiscing of past ceilidhs and dances", adding: "They have also benefited our residents with dementia to connect with one another, members of the group and staff through their collective enjoyment of live music."
