The old songs are definitely the best.

That was the unanimous verdict of the Heads Up clients who enjoyed a sing-a-long led by Gina Cleverley of Wells.

The songs included Pack Up Your Troubles, Amazing Grace, You Are My Sunshine and favourites from musicals like the Sound of Music and Mary Poppins.

"I really enjoyed it too," said Gina, a music teacher at the Blue and other schools in the Wells area who also provides private tuition.

"Everyone responded so well and we had wonderfully good vibes during the sing-a-longs."

She played piano most of the time and added gentler classical music with her flute at the end.

"Music accesses different parts of the brain than language," say Dementia UK. "So music can be used to communicate or engage with someone who has been diagnosed with dementia, even if they no longer speak or respond to other people's words.

"Playing soothing music to a person may inspire an emotional reaction in them. Playing music that meant something, such as a favourite song, a piece of music from their wedding, or a tune they used to sing to their children, can tap into powerful memories and emotions."

advertisement

Gina will return to Heads Up, the mental health charity based at South Horrington, next month and there will also be a music therapy session there today (July 5) with Julie Britton.

Both sessions will be paid for by the Wells Dementia Action Alliance.