If you've ever stood in a crowd of people at a concert all singing the same song, you will have experienced the power of music when it comes to social connection. Music brings people together and that's exactly what our JH Rocks festival did this August.
JH Rocks is an annual event that takes place at both our hospices. Children can spend a week enjoying music, joining in with workshops and craft activities and being entertained by visiting performers. The idea is to bring all the fun of a music festival to children that would find it challenging to attend a large-scale music event.
This year’s event had the theme of ‘Come Rain or Shine’ and included performances and interactive sessions with local musicians, Shroton Ukelee Band, Sam the Harpist, Simon Small and more. We had fun playing instruments with Rock Steady Music School, singing karaoke and making tie-dye bandanas.
Lisa Magill, Play worker said:
"Music has no boundaries when it comes to illness and disability. Even deafness doesn't stop children experiencing the joy of music through feeling the vibrations and playing with an instrument.
There's often music playing during sessions at the hospice so we thought, why not bring a music festival to the children and families? Music gives the children in our care the chance to express themselves. This could be through song but also in non-verbal ways using pitch, tone, volume, rhythm, body movement and facial expressions.
Studies show that music stimulates the brain and in some cases it can even lower blood pressure, which in turn can help with pain relief, and stress reduction. There's just so many benefits to bringing music to Julia's House families."
