The Music Well CIC is extremely grateful to the Rye International Jazz & Blues Festival for being their chosen good cause. The main purpose of the CIC is to provide music therapy to the many individuals who can benefit from therapeutic intervention. And this small Rye-based organisation relies on grants and donations to carry out its work in the community.
The Music Well provides trained therapists to work in schools (both mainstream and special), residential homes for both children and adults and also clients in their own homes or in hired spaces in the community. In addition, The Music Well also runs drumming circles and separate singing groups for adults and for children.
During the Rye Jazz Festival, Niki Stuart of The Music Well was able to speak to the audience before each of the fantastic concerts in the beautiful venue of St Mary’s Church to inform them about the CIC’s work. She spoke after being introduced by Ian Bowden, the brains and energy behind the Jazz Festival.
“It is always hard to communicate the full extent of our work at the beginning of the concerts,” says Niki. “The audience is keen to see the performers and don’t necessarily want to listen to a lecture on the benefits of music therapy and community musical activities!
“But Rye Jazz Festival attracts people who are already convinced that music is beneficial and understand how more vulnerable members of society can benefit and find solace in non-verbal communication. This was highlighted by the extraordinary generosity of the members of the audiences and meant that the Music Well’s bank balance is better off by £2,750 after the Festival ended! All of the money raised goes directly to supporting people through music. The directors of the CIC are not paid and everything is spent on accredited music therapists or musical facilitators.”
The directors of The Music Well would like to offer a huge thank you to the Rye International Jazz & Blues Festival – the organisers and the audiences – as it not only brings music to Rye for the August Bank Holiday weekend but it also ensures The Music Well can carry on supporting local people.
Image Credits: Tony Ham .