The regular open mic session at the Simeon arms in Ryde, which is held on the 1st Sunday of each month, had a very special participant this month – Brian Gray who suffers from dementia. Brian has been attending music workshops at Aspire Ryde run by Jess Leigh Ong on a Monday between 11:00 and 13:00. Music is shown to help reduce anxiety and depression, can help maintain speech and language and enhances quality of life. Brian was a professional musician playing with the Eric Stephens Jazz Band across the Island and along the South Coast. Playing with Jess, supported by some local volunteer musicians, Brian has rediscovered his love of playing and gained enough confidence to play in front of an audience for the first time in several years. Jess says:
“It has been a wonderful privilege to meet and get to play with Brian. He is a talented bass player and a true gentleman; I am so pleased that we have been able to support him in getting playing again! Having worked with adults with dementia for the past 6 years, in residential care and in the community, I have always been amazed at how music can instantly spark memories and improve a mood. “I am hoping with this project we can reach more musicians suffering from degenerative memory conditions who could benefit from a group like this, as well as raising public awareness of how beneficial creative arts can be on physical and mental health and wellbeing.”
Opening the open mic evening at the Simeon arms, Brian was able to dazzle with his skill on double bass, accompanied by Julie Elston on percussion, Jess Leigh Ong on guitar and vocals, Julian Gabriel Clarke on Guitar and vocals and Jim Elston also on guitar and vocals. A friend of Brian who was at the performance said:
“It was great to see Brian playing again, he was very supportive of my son when he started playing, a genuinely nice guy who recognised talent in a youngster and gave him every opportunity to play” A day or so later he said: “I bumped into Brian an hour ago on his way into town. He’s really happy to be playing again.”
If you, or someone you know could benefit from these workshops contact Jess Leigh Ong at Aspire Ryde, [email protected] or come along to the open mic at the Simeon on the first Sunday of each month at 21:00.
