Song Community Festival – Derby University

Who should attend?

Are you a singing practitioner, facilitator, choir director or teacher, who runs community choirs, amateur choirs or singing groups for health conditions such as dementia?

Or, do you want to learn more about singing and its benefits for health and well-being? Do you want to find out more about how to lead Mental Health Inclusive Group Singing?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of the questions above, come to the Community Song Festival!

Song Community Festival has three aims

• To share our research-based Mental Health Inclusive Group Singing Toolkit with you
• To develop a community of practice where you can learn from each other and support each other
• To offer a networking opportunity

The half-day programme will consist of singing, workshops and talks. We’ll also be launching the Song Community website, which is full of useful resources.

This event is free, but spaces are limited. Please complete the booking form below to avoid disappointment.

The half-day programme includes:

Lunch

Mental Health Inclusive Group Singing Toolkit presentation (by Dr Yoon Irons)

Workshops

1. “Warm-ups” by Alex Binns (Alex is Music Director at Derby Cathedral, and leads many music projects in and around Derby including a community choir
2. “Fun Singing Activities” by Sarah Dale (Sarah is an utility musician, and toured and taught from the freezing climes of Alaska to the frolicsome Dollywood)
3. “Inter-cultural Songwriting” by Gaynor Shaw (Gaynor is a pianist and choir leader, and founded a Local Vocals community choir in Derby 5 years ago)
4. “Songwriting with and by children” by Dr Liam Maloy (Liam is a multi-instrumentalist, song writer, and a researcher at University of Derby)

Community of Practice: “Song Community” presentation (by Dr Yoon Irons)

Plus, lots of singing!

Speaker information

• Dr Yoon Irons: Dr J. Yoon Irons is an associate professor of arts for health and well-being at University of Derby. She is director of singing research lab, and her research has uncovered a range benefits of group singing for people living with long-term health conditions, such as cystic fibrosis, chronic pain, Parkinson’s and stroke. Yoon has led a Mental Health Inclusive Group Singing project and will share the outcomes at the Song Community Festival
• Dr Liam Maloy
• Alex Binns
• Gaynor Shaw
• Sarah Dale