Local group bring nostalgia through song

Great British Life: Lucy interacting with a participant at a Musical Moments sessionLucy interacting with a participant at a Musical Moments session (Image: WWW.ANDYBIGGAR.COM)

Ever been listening to the radio when a song came on that instantly took you back to your past? We all know that music can make you instantly happy. Congleton-based Musical Moments has tapped into the power of song and use it to provide music sessions at care and nursing homes.

Founded by 25-year-old Beckie Morley, Musical Moments sessions work is tailored to specific groups and it uses music, props, instruments and live performance to help stimulate and engage people.

‘I was at Leeds College of Music studying classical music and I had to complete a community placement, so I decided to work at the Mount hospital in Leeds, which deals with patients with mental health issues. My Nana suffered from dementia, so I did it because of her. The placement went really well, and I knew that after university I would to go into something related to this.’

After graduation in 2011, Beckie returned home to Congleton and started to knock on the doors of local care homes. The success was apparent straight away, and Musical Moments was born. Four years later, Beckie now has 130 Cheshire care homes on the books.

Great British Life: Melanie from Musical Moments during a sessionMelanie from Musical Moments during a session (Image: WWW.ANDYBIGGAR.COM)

‘We work with mainly elderly people with dementia, but we also work with additional needs groups and youth groups. Our Musical Moments Early Years classes for babies and toddlers are also popular.’

For two years, Beckie ran the business alone but soon needed assistance. Beth Matthews, Melanie Levy and Lucy Chesters have all joined Musical Moments, allowing the business to expand into neighbouring counties. They’ve even picked up a few awards along the way, including Most Promising New Business of 2014 from the East Cheshire Chamber of Commerce.

www.musical-moments.co.uk