For
over four years Escape Artists has been working with patients at
Sue Ryder Care in Ely. Our involvement with Sue Ryder Care began
when we received a request to provide music workshops for long term
patients who are suffering from degenerative brain disorders.
STOP PRESS
Read the research by Jon Hall of Cambridge University's Engineering Department into music technology for patients at Sue Ryder Care.
We
were able to start work at Sue Ryder Care when we received
a grant from the Cambridge University Active Communities Fund – this enabled us to programme regular music
workshops which, in turn, meant that we could include some of
the patients in the development and performance of Adoreus,
a Cambridge Cantata in King’s College Chapel in September 2005.
Simon Gunton leads a music workshop at Sue Ryder Care
Through the Active Communities Fund we were put in contact with
the Engineering Department at Cambridge University. The Engineering
Department has been working on various computer interface devices
which were designed to be used by people with severe physical disabilities.
In partnership with the Engineering Department it was decided that
we should try and develop some of these devices – such as
computer mice controlled by eye movements – for the use of
patients at Sue Ryder Care. The idea is to create specially adapted
musical instruments which will enable patients to express their
ideas musically, and also to perform.
The workshops at Sue Ryder Care are led by Simon
Gunton, Escape Artists’ Musical Director.
If you would like to help us develop our work at Sue Ryder Care
please visit our support us pages or call
Alex Leiffheidt on
020 7655 0909, or email him, alex@escapeartists.co.uk, for more information.
Escape Artists gratefully acknowledges the support of our business sponsors on this project.
