Makin’ Music

From August to November 2014, people with mental illness living in the Adelaide Hills were invited to participate in a 15 week song-writing and music workshop program to increase their self-confidence and expression. The workshops offered new and worthwhile activities in a group setting that could be replicated to form part of an ongoing activity schedule.

At the beginning of the program, an initiative of the Country Health SA Adelaide Hills Community Mental Health Team, the participants put forward their goals. The objectives for the sessions included confidence building, developing skills in music and singing, and simply having some fun.

Singer-songwriter Robby Bowler led an energetic process of movement, rhythm, storytelling and imaginative activities in the workshops, and participants were able to develop their song-writing skills as they learnt about song structures and pairing music to lyrics.

As the sessions progressed, the focus extended into singing and rehearsals of finished songs were held before a CD was recorded in a professional studio. Each person was able to leave the program with a sense of achievement in producing a CD of 5 original songs. Country Health SA Occupational Therapist, Emlyn Lewis, was on hand throughout the program, with added support from other mental health clinicians.

The group also discussed issues they had with anxiety over new social situations within the workshops, with one member saying, “…I would used to have had to take Valium to come to a group like this,” but reflected that now he was glad to come. Other feedback from participants was just as positive, with reports that they felt like a great environment had been created by facilitators and members alike and one person saying how inspired they felt after each session.

The group project was an initiative of the Country Health SA Adelaide Hills Community Mental Health Team and funded by the Regional Arts Australia Step Up grant. This funding supported a program facilitator, the cost of venue hire and recording of a music cd in a professional recording studio.

Funded by Country Health SA Mental Health Mount Barker and Country Arts SA. Partners include Life Without Barriers.

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