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DSO Newsletter : April 2020

NEWSLETTER 1 APRIL 2020

Although we are currently in the midst of our enforced Coronavirus lockdown the unfortunate situation has provided an opportunity to publish our first newsletter to coincide with the excitement of our website launch and imminent publicity leaflet drop in GP Surgeries.  Our aim is to provide all of our supporters with an update of our activities, specific events, current news and the charity’s progress since its inception in July 2019.

I. COVID-19

The Dementia Sings Out (DSO) charity trustees considered our duty of care to ensure that the most vulnerable members of our weekly Thursday morning sessions are kept safe; It is against the background of some wide consultation that we sadly concluded that we must suspend our wonderful weekly Thursday morning sessions for at least 4 weeks until early April at least. We will keep you posted.

II. RECENT SESSIONS

It has always been our stated intention to ensure that our weekly sessions remain as fresh and exciting as possible. Having ended 2019 with a fancy-dress Christmas Party with vintage afternoon tea all of which was captured superbly by Anglia News, it was in that same community spirit that we agreed with Gareth Fuller that in 2020 we would invite others to join us periodically. Before our current break we had the excitement of visits from the Year 3 pupils of Wellingborough School (following on from that by Freeman’s School on World Music Day) and latterly the quirky (in the nicest possible way) Wellingborough Ukelele Band. If anyone needed to be reminded of the power of music and singing and especially the importance of social interaction between youth and ‘maturity’ then we commend the Reports & video clips of these uplifting visits which can be seen on our facebook page.

III. STREAMING

Our enforced break has also enabled us to consider an avenue which was under discussion before the current pandemic. We have been aware of the fact that, for some, there have been difficulties in physically joining us at the Champions Church in Wellingborough each Thursday morning. The logistical pressures of transport and staffing are two oft-heard explanations. One answer to this could be a form of ‘streaming’ of our singing sessions which would allow remote access through a hyperlink from the new website. Watch this space about a Youtube channel using choir volunteers, rather like an exercise video!

 

IV. RECENT TESTIMONIALS

 

“Thank you for inviting us today it was so very special. The children got so much out of the experience, lots of thoughtful discussions at lunch about dementia and older people. One child who sang a solo told us he did it because he saw an old lady and he wanted to make her smile and she did. Comments like that made this so utterly incredible and worthwhile.”

 

“Please thank Gareth and everyone for making us so welcome – he truly has a gift – several of the children who did solos we would have not identified before this morning. One girl is severely dyslexic but picked up the words and tune to ‘ You are my sunshine’ perfectly – amazing! The morning had a real impact on the adults who came with us, it really is an uplifting and positive time. Thank you again and we’d love to come next term.”

 

V. FUTURE EVENTS

We will obviously need to review this programme as the current pandemic unfolds further but to give readers a flavour of what we did have in place:

 

  • Arrangements for DSO Disco 19/3/20 an opportunity to dust off the outfits!
  • ‘Musicals Session’16/4/20 led by guest singing coach Jonathan Reynolds
  • VE Day Tea Party 7/5/20 – another opportunity to dress up in 1940s’ gear.
  • First Anniversary Party 9/7/20 – invitation to be extended to all sponsors & media.
  • School Pupils’ Sessions. All Saints & Wellingborough Pre-Prep School have agreed to come together for the latest in our DSO-Schools’ collaborative ventures.

 

VI. PLAYLISTS

 

The longstanding favourites are Love Train and Que Sera though with John Denver’s Country Roads recently making a strong run up the popularity charts …….. but still holding on to the Number 1 spot for another week …………… My Boy Lollipop (complete with dance moves)!

 

And finally ………… below are other songs due to enter the DSO Thursday playlist. We try to use those with simple lyrics, those with a story or repetition, with a powerful chorus and where Gareth can teach all singers harmonies and parts. Do you have a personal playlist for when you come back to sing your solo as a Dementia Friend? The following suggestions might help you to practise during this isolation:

  • Love & Marriage (Frank Sinatra)
  • Moon River (Andy Williams)
  • Something Good (Herman’s Hermits)
  • The Young Ones (Cliff Richard)
  • What a Wonderful World (Sam Cooke)
  • Under the Boardwalk (Drifters)
  • Save the Last Dance (Drifters)
  • Daydream Believer (Monkees)
  • Memories Are Made of This (Dean Martin)
  • Sloop John B (Beach Boys)
  • Amazing Grace (various ie Judy Collins)
  • Magic Moments (Perry Como)
  • Downtown (Petula Clark)
  • Blue Moon (various)
  • Bridge over Troubled Waters (Simon & Garfunkel)
  • Green Green Grass of Home (Tom Jones)

Hopefully we look forward to seeing you in the not-too-distant future on a Thursday morning at the Champions’ Church, Havelock Street in Wellingborough and even if you can’t sing like Sinatra I’m sure that you can move those hips like Tom Jones ………….. or even Simon!

Garry, Ruth, Judith, Cathie, Kathryn, Ian, Lucy & Gareth

1st April 2020.