Children’s Hospitals LSO Discovery’s Children’s Hospitals programme works with infants and children aged 0 to 18 in hospitals across London, many of whom suffer from chronic, life-threatening or terminal illness. LSO players and workshop leaders engage in one-to-one bedside visits and small group sessions, as well as working in pre-existing hospital school units. Vanessa King, LSO Discovery Early Years workshop leader, explains what that can mean for the people involved. ‘Together with LSO players, I make around 15 hospital visits a year – that’s out of a total of over 60 visits to a range of London hospitals, involving approximately 700 children and families. I work with young children under five and babies. We currently visit the Royal London Hospital with one simple aim: to improve the daily lives of ill children. Hospitals can be extremely stressful environments, especially for young children. ‘Our sessions are gentle, private and spontaneous and we tailor them to each individual. We see so many positive results: an escape from their clinical surrounds; access to important, unrealised emotions; catharsis. It’s about expressing yourself without words, having suffering eased without medicine by the undeniably powerful effects of music, whether it be stimulating or soothing. Families, nurses and play workers feel the benefit too. Our sessions are a stabilising, hopeful force in a so often unknown and challenging environment. I believe that music can lead to the kind of mental states that can enable quicker physical recovery. I feel so privileged and enriched to be able to offer such profound, effective and valuable complementary work.’
[Our son] was in a lot of pain and doesn’t interact freely. However, he absolutely loved the music sessions, becoming animated and interacting in ways that he hasn’t done for a long time. Being so close to the music and gently and gradually encouraged to take part has been the best form of therapy for him. Seeing his reaction, and really enjoying the sessions ourselves, has really helped us through some difficult times. Parents of a four-year-old hospital patient
full Concert LIstings pages 44 to 49 ~ Booking Details Page 51
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