Musicians: Kat Eaton (vocals) Pete Lee (piano)
Spitz pianist Pete Lee and I travelled down from Leeds and Chesterfield respectfully, and met at Bridgeside Lodge refreshed from the solitude and contemplation of an unwatched-clock train journey. We started proceedings in our new favourite spot – the ground floor dining room where we heard JR was waiting for us, tablet poised for reading lyrics, taking videos of the performance and playing us his music. He welcomed us with a smile and instantly asked us if we could play his original song ‘United’. We of course said yes, but that we would work up to it, otherwise the set would climax too soon. Being a fan of live music, and now a performer and writer, JR understood this and happily obliged. Joining us was IG, SA and SA’s art therapist Zoe.
We played a couple of chilled songs to warm up and as she became comfortable with our presence AS started to giggle and couldn’t stop! When we arrived at Bridgeside we could hear that she was quite distressed so this joyful laughter was a welcome sound and truly contagious. By the end of the third song she had us all in stitches. I could tell that SA enjoyed effortlessly conducting our laughter by diminishing or increasing hers. We were her orchestra, creating a delicious cacophony of giggles, yelps and snorts. What a powerful tool for her to effortlessly master and use to communicate and connect with others.
With this new found energy, and a little delirious from wheezing with laughter, I said “let’s play something more upbeat” and JR suggested Tina Turner’s ‘Simply The Best’. IG, who hadn’t seemed particularly interested in the music up to now, pricked up his ears at this suggestion and exclaimed “Yeah”! What followed was an impassioned version of this all-time classic, with JR, Pete, Zoe and I singing together. Each time we got to the chorus IG pumped his fists dancing and exclaimed “Yeah!” accompanied by a huge smile. His enthusiasm was palpable and each chorus seemed to get louder as he continued to encourage us to express ourselves even more. IG has limited speech but his body language and exclamations energised us so much more than it would have if he simply sang along. There’s something in me that wanted to express his emotion through my voice, letting him live vicariously through me for a moment. What a rare gift – his ability to make a near-stranger want to give up control of their body so as to be a vessel for him to express himself.
After playing an encore of ‘United’ we left the dining room singing into the corridor and down to JBL’s room. On the way out JR asked us to let him know when we’d be back. It’s always encouraging to know that the music Spitz provides is positively anticipated by the residents and I’m pleased to think that JR has this to look forward to and it breaks the monotony of his daily routine.
In JBL’s room, her fiancé Matt told us a speech and language therapist will be making regular visits to collect data in an effort to prove that her communication skills are improving. If the data shows ample evidence that they have improved it will mean more forms of therapy to help enhance JBL’s communication skills further. As outsiders, Pete and I have both seen a real improvement in her communications skills. When we chatted about our visit JBL later that day, Pete told me that JBL had nodded to him, squinted her eyes and smiled as he left the room to wish him on his merry way, something she was unable to do two years ago. We both agreed that if we could help with the assessment in any way we would.
On the third floor we headed to the communal space. KN and her sister were there, as well as IF and SR. As we were setting up IF suddenly looked a little ill at ease and shouted “stop talking about me”, showing me her fist. I assured her I wasn’t talking about her and she relaxed a smidge. But once we started playing and she’d become more comfortable with our presence she asked us if we knew any Scottish songs, a regular request. We said we didn’t but that I did know some Robbie Burns poetry and also Auld Lang Syne. She seemed to approve of the latter and so we launched into it with full vigour. Perhaps being of the mind-set that it was a little pastiche (who could blame her?!) she decided to sing her own lyrics over the chords and a naughty Scottish folk song emerged…
Another varied and fulfilling day at Bridgeside. Tomorrow I’m off of to Northwick Park Hospital to play to patients in the Stroke unit with guitarist Marcus Bonfanti. Fingers crossed we can lighten the burden of a couple of souls just like the residents of Bridgeside lightened ours today.
