Music and Dementia


Meaningful moments of connection, a conversation without words.

Manchester Camerata has been delivering its award-winning Music in Mind programme for people with dementia and their carers since 2012.

Principal Flute and Resident Music Therapist Amina Hussain wins prestigious Association of British Orchestras Award.

Principal Flute and Resident Music Therapist Amina Hussain wins prestigious Association of British Orchestras Award.

Amina’s work is a fantastic example of how music can improve people’s lives both on and off the stage.

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BBC One Breakfast

BBC One Breakfast

Amina and Beth were on BBC One’s Breakfast talking about the impact our Music in Mind programme makes.

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Creative Health Review

Creative Health Review

Music in Mind, has been included in the latest National Centre for Creative Health and All-Party Parliamentary Group report.

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Music in Mind – Taiwan

Music in Mind – Taiwan

Last month our Music in Mind team were over in Taiwan working with the National Symphony Orchestra. Read this blog from our Principal Percussionist Janet Fulton about the trip.

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Music Cafés

Music Cafés

Free music sessions for people with dementia and their carers

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RPS Award Winners

RPS Award Winners

Our cinematic short film telling the story of living with dementia, ‘Untold – Keith’ won the ‘Storytelling’ category at the RPS Awards

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BBC One ‘Dementia, Music and Us’

BBC One ‘Dementia, Music and Us’

BBC One’s ‘We Are England’ series covers our work with people living with dementia in this 30 minute documentary.

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Music In Mind Remote Ltd

Music In Mind Remote Ltd

Manchester Camerata and The University of Manchester receive UKRI grant to found new company ‘Music in Mind Remote’.

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Dementia Action Week

Dementia Action Week

We kick off Dementia Action Week with a video from Lynda, a carer who has been part of our Music in Mind programme for over 8 years.

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See more of our dementia work


Led by our resident team of highly trained, specialist musicians and therapists, Music in Mind’s unique methodology uses improvisation to help people living with dementia to express themselves and communicate with others. These sessions help reduce frustration, enable new connections to be made and have a profound effect on daily life.

David’s Story

Life with Dementia

“David didn’t get involved in much. He found others to be very intimidating and they made him nervous. He mainly kept himself to himself and would get very agitated: he would shout, cry, and sometimes try to hit other residents. He was isolated.”

Life with Music Therapy 

“The Music in Mind sessions have helped David channel his negativity into music. He will now sit with other residents and doesn’t get as agitated with them. He will happily get involved in all our musical activities and will even get up and have a dance with you. He has also started to build up the trust with me [his carer].

“This has had an amazing result both on him and other residents and taught them how to communicate with each other through music.”

Support for our Carers

As well as leading sessions, we also train and support care workers to deliver Music in Mind workshops. This creates a legacy that continues to embed itself in everyday care home life.

During Covid-19, we built an online platform to enable remote delivery of this vital care – Music in Mind Remote. Starting with people across Greater Manchester, Music in Mind Remote gained national press coverage in The Guardian and we have also delivered online sessions via this platform in Taiwan.

To find out more about our dementia work please email us here here

One of our virtual meet-ups for Carers during Covid-19
Our Music in Mind Remote portal has comprehensive resources available.

To support this valuable work,
donate today here