The Music Well held its AGM on Tuesday November 19 at The Kino Cinema in their Silver Room and the comfortable chairs were well occupied with a good number of people.
Catrina Lafferty, Chairman, gave her report about the current activity of The Music Well covering music therapy services to local schools including Rye Primary and Rye College and pilot sessions beginning in Ninfield and Hastings.
Mary’s Fund, set up after the murder of Mary Shipstone in 2014, is continuing to provide music therapy sessions for those children who cannot afford sessions and the fund is kept healthily buoyant by their partnership with Rye Jazz and Blues Festival.
The singing groups are providing opportunities for those with breathing difficulties, children’ club at the Primary school, and the Singing for Wellbeing group which goes from strength to strength.
John Hart presented the financial situation and accounts showing a healthy balance and acknowledging the huge contribution made from the Rye Jazz and Blue Festival. This partnership is continuing into the future.
Ideas for the future are to expand the current provision of music therapy services into Hastings and St Leonards and out towards Tenterden and Ashford.
The Music Well currently has three music therapists offering sessions, one of whom, Yair Katz, gave a short presentation on his work followed by a drumming circle at the end so everyone left energised and understanding a little bit more about the therapeutic use of music.
Members of the public had helpful suggestions about contacting Little Gate Farm to offer music therapy support for their clients and looking into the possibility of setting up a Dementia Choir.
The Music Well Directors would like to encourage more people to join them and ask people to get in touch to find out more about ways to help or becoming a Director. Please contact Liz Butt on 01797 223920 or email enquiries@themusicwell.org.uk
Image Credits: Liz Butt .