Emily originally started on the keyboard whilst at Cygnet Hospital Sheffield. She thought it would be a good distraction and found that, not only did she find it helpful when she felt low, but she enjoyed playing it as well.
Emily said: “When I play the piano it just makes me feel happier, it is calming. I just like the sound of it.”
Fern, a mental health nurse who worked with Emily, said: “Music has really helped Emily, in particular when she is in crisis. When Emily struggles to communicate her feelings verbally she can often express her emotions through the art of music and it has had a really positive impact on her.”
The first song Emily learned to play on keyboard was ‘My Heart Will Go On’, the Celine Dion song made famous as the love theme from ‘Titanic’. At the start Emily found playing the keyboard quite difficult but over time it got easier and easier.
Support and encouragement from staff and peers on the ward helped increase Emily’s confidence. On the support she received, Emily said: “Sometimes when I play other patients tell me it’s nice and that I’m really good at playing.” In this video Emily plays Ludovico Einaudi’s ‘Nuvole Bianche’
Ali Curtis, Cygnet’s CAMHS Nursing Lead, said: “Music 2 Empower has been a great project for Emily to engage in. It’s so lovely to see how music can support people in their darkest times, and Emily plays her song so well! Emily has moved on from the hospital now but we know that music will continue to play a big part of her journey.”
Music 2 Empower is an initiative Cygnet Health Care originally launched in October 2019 and aims to harness the positive effects of music across our services. Music plays a fundamental part of most people’s lives as it can shape our identity, culture, heritage and spiritual beliefs. Many of us listen to music for relaxation and leisure and it can affect people deeply.
Harnessing the power of music can also help people across mental health care settings, where it is used to promote improvements in people’s social relations and connectedness, as well as building confidence and self-esteem.
To find out more about Music 2 Empower and to watch other episodes, please click here.