Music-Comm is a fun way to practice communication and interaction skills through music, within the Nursing Home we try to run a Music-Comm session once every 2 weeks as the resident’s absolutely love it.

Recognising the need for routine and structure Music-Comm has a clear format, but also allows flexibility within the activities.

First we start with the “Hello” song, where introductions are done. We then go on to the news activity where we chat/draw/sign what we have been doing over the past week. This is followed by our music and movement section where we join in gentle exercises to get our bodies moving: we start with our heads then move to our hands and finish off with our feet. The next section is where we do our “sing and sign”, this is a song that we sign Makaton to. Some of our residents knowledge of Makaton is very impressive with many knowing most of stage 1 and 2 signs and symbols.

Choice time is great fun where we all choose our favourite instrument to play. Patsy usually chooses the drums and both Karen and Gordon love to play the tambourine, whereas Robert, Fiona and David like to choose the shakers.

We finish off with the goodbye song and again sign this in Makaton as-well as singing.

A number of skills can be developed during Music-comm and these include:

• Motivation and confidence to communicate
• Engagement and participation
• Awareness of self and others
• Eye-contact
• Enhanced attention, listening and turn taking skills.

Have a look at our photographs below to see what fun we have during Music-Comm.