On Thursday the 5^th of November, Blackwood staff and residents gathered in the lounge at Broom Court for a unique performance. A small group of residents struck a chord when they played for us a sample of the music they have been working on for the last 10 weeks.

Led by Niroshini Thambar from Drake Music Scotland, residents used unconventional instruments and technology to assist them in creating a beautiful piece of music. The recording (which Niroshini describes as 'a recording that documents the project’) is a very ambient and evocative piece that was inspired by and forms a soundtrack to the painting, ‘The Sound of Many Waters’ by John Millais. You can listen to the recording by clicking the link below...

Sound of Many Waters - Broom Court Ensemble

Residents were thrilled with their time spent making music and are eager to continue with Drake Music Scotland.

Broom Court resident - Alison - recreated the sound of a cello using an IPad which can be heard on the recording. She loved doing the group sessions with other residents and is highly enthusiastic about recreating the experience, with only one small change, next time she fancies playing the guitar.

Isobel also took part in the music project and was equally keen. What she’d love to do next is set themselves the additional challenge of playing a song that people will recognise.

Another resident, Mandy, was using the fantastic device called Soundbeam, moving her hand through an invisible beam to create the beautiful sound of the oboe.

Aileen was taught to play the piano by her father and uncle as a child, a passion she was unable to continue due to her disability. ‘I like it very much. I like that we’re playing together. I used to play the piano before I had MS. And my mum played the organ too’. For her part in the performance, Aileen was playing the flute.

She also, to an extent, helped to determine their inspiration for the music. Having been told by Aileen of her long walks around Brig o’ Turk as a young girl, Niroshini started doing a little research about the area. She soon found that pre-Raphaelite landscape painter John Millais had spent a lot of time in the area, and painted a very evocative canvas representing the scenery on the river Braan near Dunkeld. This picture would become the visual accompaniment to their music.

Drake Music Scotland is a charity whose vision is ‘to transform people’s lives through the power of music’. Working with a wide range of musicians and composers with disabilities, they aim to reshape the definition of musicians, musical instruments and ensembles innovative techniques and instruments to produce brilliant music. Blackwood would like to thank Niroshini Thambar and Pete Sparkes for having brought plenty of joy to residents at Broom Court; and of course a big congratulations to the Broom Court musicians themselves for having produced a beautiful piece of music together.

------------------------------------

Adaptive Instruments; what exactly is there out there?

Music and Disability: Breaking Down Barriers at Broom Court

Inclusion without exclusion in Scottish theatre