How Yorkshire initiative is connecting communities through the power of music

Connection to the internet, as we work and study from home. Connection to our friends, to our family and colleagues, as we find new ways to keep in touch. And connection with a wider world, as together we experience a worrying unknown.

It is a word with much poignancy during this global pandemic and that’s one of the reasons why Emma Baylin has chosen to explore its meaning with a collective project designed to connect people across the UK. Emma is the director of Shared Harmonies, a social enterprise focusing on improving confidence, communication and wellbeing through singing.

The Community Interest Company runs singing groups and workshops across Yorkshire, including for those affected by Parkinson’s, dementia and long term respiratory conditions, as well as holding corporate team building sessions and workplace choirs.

Those taking part are helping to build and compose a song about the meaning of connection. “We wanted to do something that created a massive sense of community and connection because we know that people are really suffering the impacts of feeling isolated and that reduction in social contact,” Emma says.

“We know from the workshops we run with vulnerable members of the community that singing can help improve your mood, evokes feelings of happiness and helps you connect with others, so we decided to create ‘Our Song’ to get the community involved and lift spirits.”

Anyone from across the UK can get take part in any aspect, or all, of the initiative through email or social media - and Emma has also been working with activity coordinators in care homes. The first two weeks has seen people share their thoughts and reflections around the themes of social interaction, connecting with the environment and nature, and understanding self. Shared Harmonies will now collate the ideas and create music and lyrics based on the responses.

There will be an opportunity for feedback before a final composition is created and people will then be invited to learn and record component parts of the song, which will be pulled together in a community compilation.

“I’ve realised how much of my sense of wellbeing and happiness is derived through human connection,” Emma reflects. “I think as humans we are literally hard wired to thrive off interaction, we aren’t meant to live in isolation. I think that impact of reduction in social contact has probably hit people harder than most people really anticipated.

“I’ve heard a number of people describe it as a sense of loss or a sense of grief. Those are really big emotions to be feeling...The more of us that can offer initiatives in a variety of ways, the more opportunity there is for people to not feel like they’re on their own and for them to feel like they can still connect with other people and be part of something that’s a really big community.

“That’s what we wanted to offer because we know how vital that is for people’s health and wellbeing. We’ll also be left with something that’s a legacy, a reflection of what people were thinking and feeling and experiencing during this really unusual, unprecedented time.”

Search Shared Harmonies on Facebook or email [email protected] to get involved.

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