Today we doubled up – two sessions at Great Ormond Street

He is one of the world’s most original and uniquely talented guitarists…

After much head-scratching and googling, we decided that we could write a song about it…

A round-up of a week of Spitz sessions in the run-up to Christmas

Our weekly visits to Great Ormond Street continued today as we spent time with kids on Koala, Bear and Kingfisher wards

Lots of guitars but rarely a cello!

From among the ghosts and cobwebs that adorned the walls of Bridgeside Lodge came the sounds of……

It has been a journey for both of us…

Celebrating Arts In Care Homes Day with Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir

The final verse captures the joy of performing…

Stepping back in time…

Music is employed as a motivator, as an energiser, to get us feeling good!

We crossed over the wide street of imposing Georgian townhouses to enter the hospital…

We were to visit four wards which we hadn’t been to before…

Music is magic, and they give that magic to the people who need it most.

This week I have written with a 75 year old, a 7 year old and 15 prison inmates…

Before a note was played there was other business to attend to…

BBC Breakfast tell the story of Bridgeside Lodge resident Jackie and her partner Matt

They’ve been looking forward to this all morning! So have the staff actually…

Spitz director Jane Glitre and pianist Arthur Lea on BBC radio London

As we entered the ward, there was a slightly less busy feel than usual…

For several years we have celebrated the Winter Solstice at Bridgeside Lodge…

“I want to write a Christmas song…”

The Bridgeside Lodge Christmas party…

Sometimes the best and most memorable gigs happen in unusual settings and when you least expect it…

A spark of magic in a throwaway statement…

Today was one of those days at Bridgeside Lodge…

There were Great Expectations for this visit….

Today we visited Ellington Ward at Northwick Park Hospital for the second time.

Ellington Ward is an acute inpatient mental health ward for older people…

Marcus played at Bridgeside Lodge on Tuesday, Great Ormond Street Hospital on Wednesday and Northwick Park on Friday…

An afternoon of soul and blues…

The Spitz team were out on the town on Thursday night, after receiving two separate invitations from funders…

The National Day of Arts in Care Homes champions arts engagement in care settings and highlights the health and wellbeing benefits for all involved.

Our first visit to Great Ormond Street Hospital was a great success!

A sunny summer concert in the garden at Bridgeside Lodge

A powerful and spiritual session at Bridgeside Lodge with Arthur and Melissa.

“What a tremendous day. Let’s do that again”

Marcus Bonfanti describes a typical Monday session at Bridgeside Lodge

A Friday and a Monday session to bookend the weekend at Northwick Park Hospital

A beautiful summer concert from a string trio in the garden of Bridgeside Lodge

An afternoon of knees-up, old-time jazz at Bridgeside Lodge

Spitz musicians visit the National Activity Providers Association at Appleby House

Celebrating the longest day of the year with a party in the sun

Good friends, good company and good music!

“It is a humbling experience to go from a large concert stage to a care home and I am reminded of the vulnerability of humankind and health and the beauty of fragility.”

To celebrate the King’s Coronation, the Spitz joined Bridgeside Lodge residents, staff, and visitors for a garden party, live music, and a barbecue.

“Music can remind us of who we are, reconnecting us with ourselves and a sense of playfulness.”

“I retuned his guitar to open D tuning so he could fully join in, strumming along and the three of us had a great blues jam together.”

Spring has sprung in Bridgeside Lodge.

“This is the perfect setting – lunch and live music! When are you coming back?”

She smelt the flower and said “I would stay living here for this”

‘Every time I move my body, I feel revived/When I see the moving people, I feel alive’

“Outside the lifts on the second floor” should be a designated and accredited live music venue

Our “Next Generation” initiative aims to introduce young musicians into our work.

After we’d finished the song, she looked at me and said ‘I love it, and you love it, I can tell’.

This is the life of a musician, unexpected surprises…

A special live session at Bridgeside to mark the Spring Equinox.

“When emotions are so hard to express, I can use my songs to eliminate big stress”

Nat describes a typically varied session at Brigeside

A new day, a new tune.

“People think that singing at a care home must be tiring and difficult… this couldn’t be further from the truth. It actually fills me with amazing feelings of hope, love and fun!”

“It brings me lots of joy”

Songwriting is good for the soul.

“Music is so important to me”

Heading off Blue Monday with some live music!

“Song #3 is an upbeat, driving boogie-woogie funk tune about friendship and today the lyrics flowed like an over-filled bowl of hearty word soup”

…spoken word has its limits but music has the unique power to transport us through a million places, memories and atmospheres and is accessible to everyone.

“I’m sorry I’m crying but they’re tears of joy”

“There’s something in me that wanted to express his emotion through my voice, letting him live vicariously through me for a moment.”

More historical blogs coming soon…

This is the first time The Spitz has been part of an academic study into the impacts of music on health and wellbeing.

A sunny concert and BBQ to celebrate the longest day of the year

There’s so much artistic talent and flair among the wider community of Bridgeside Lodge and we love when it reveals itself.

“She locks eyes and doesn’t let go and the brief connection we share is brilliant and intense”.

“As I played, she began to gently rock her body back and forth and gradually move closer to the source of the sound eventually shifting so that her ear was side on to the guitar”

“Singing these songs takes me back to my childhood and I feel very happy”

“It’s a joy to see people who may seem to be fading, suddenly come alive again”

“Every time I play at Bridgeside Lodge it feels magical.”

Celebrating the longest night of the year in with a garden concert in Bridgeside Lodge