Stringing Along is a Devon-based duo that runs interactive music sessions for residents in Care and Nursing homes, and for community groups such as Age Concern or The Alzheimer’s Society (Singing for the Brain). The duo’s members Phil and Mahrey Berthoud are trained Singing for the Brain leaders and bring a wealth of experience gained over nearly 30 years of playing music/entertaining together.
They offer a wide variety of popular music and songs from 1920’s onward including music hall, hymns, jazz and songs from musicals. As well as singing with guitar accompaniment they also play fiddles, mandolin, ukulele, bodhran and recorder, (but not always all in the same session!)
Stringing Along also bring along a variety of percussion instruments that can be used by the group. They aim to help everyone to join in as much as they would like and have fun, encouraging active participation and interaction through:
- Greeting songs and goodbye songs incorporating people’s names.
- sing-along songs.
- rhythm and percussion games.
- seated movement to music/action songs and music to dance to
- cognitive/memory-jogging (reminiscence) activities – including rhymes, poems, jokes, “name that tune”, cumulative songs and songs that involve sequencing or rhyming.
- encouraging language and giving opportunities to chat.
- themed sessions (eg Christmas, Easter, Queens Birthday, St Patricks Day, Seasons, Months, Weather, Holidays, food and drink, travels, names, happy songs, London songs etc…)
- Songs with a strong visual element, using props – eg hats, flags, twirlers, garlands, puppets, bubbles etc
- gentle songs and music for relaxing and listening.
Stringing Along don’t use recordings, so all the music they make is live, making for a more engaging and interesting performance. If there is a song that the duo don’t yet know that is a particular favourite, they will be delighted to learn it for a future next visit.
Please contact Stringing Along for bookings/further information.
