BBC Music Day 2019

BBC Music Day 2019, The Benefits of Music in Dementia Care

The 5th Annual BBC Music Day commences on Thursday 26th September 2019. The theme of Music and Wellbeing aims to use the power of music to inspire and bring people together, to make a positive impact to the lives of people living with dementia. Collaborating with over 50 UK organisations involved with dementia care including Age UK, the aim is to bring fun and memories to people living with dementia. Producer, singer and all-round music sensation Nile Rodgers is the ambassador for this year’s Music Day. The co-founder of Chic, Rodgers is famous for their songs such as ‘Le Freak’, as well as writing songs for other artists, such as Sister Sledge’s ‘We Are Family’. Rodgers’ personal experience with dementia, with both his Mother and Aunt, showed him just how transformational music can be for people with the condition. 

Across the week, there are many events and activities to join in with, including the first Music and Dementia Festival. It will also be taking over TV, such as specials on Bargain and Pointless Celebrities, as well as features on The One Show, Breakfast, Countryfile, Victoria Derbyshire and The Andrew Marr Show. Children can also get in on the action, with Blue Peter launching their first ever Blue Peter Music Badge. This is set to inspire children to become musicians, but also to be ‘music detectives’ to uncover their family’s history through music and music that has inspired them. 

On all BBC radio stations, there will be an exploration of why music makes people feel good, with a particularly insightful session on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, which discusses how music can help people care and connect with family members who have dementia. BBC Music Memories’ website relaunches in September with a new quiz allowing family members to customise a playlist of music that is tailored to their loved one with dementia. Evidence shows that music can help people with dementia to feel alive, live better and discover memories. The updated website also includes international, social and religious music; with new content specifically aimed at people from minority communities that are living with dementia. 

Age UK Sheffield's Wellbeing Centre recognise the importance of music to people living with dementia, focusing a lot on incorporating music within the activities they hold. They believe that although people may not remember what they had for breakfast, if you play a song form when they were younger they know every word, filling them with confidence that they’ve still got it. Loneliness is an issue for people living with dementia, as studies show that friends tend to drift away.  The Wellbeing Centre provides a day service for people living with dementia, giving them a social setting to spend their time, and get involved with their hobbies again. To find out more information about this service, visit. If you enjoy music and would like to get involved as a volunteer, we have two positions available starting next year. If you’re interested, please go to our Volunteering page and look under Intergenerational Musical Singing Sessions Volunteer.

To find out more about our Wellbeing Centre, head to the Wellbeing Centre service page and watch the amazing video!

To find out more about BBC Music Day, go to bbc.co.uk/musicday and follow #BBCMusicDay on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Article Written by our wonderful volunteer Eleanor Dabell