In care homes and day centres across Scotland, Live Music Now Scotland musicians share interactive performances with older people, creating opportunities for connection, conversation and shared experience through music. Whether it’s a familiar melody, a spontaneous singalong or simply the chance to listen together, these sessions are shaped as much by the people in the room as by the music itself.
Through various CPD training sessions, starting in year 1 of joining LMNS, our musicians explore the importance of being open to where the music might go, listening closely to the room, and responding to what’s happening. There’s a strong emphasis on flexibility; the atmosphere, the energy of the audience, even the acoustics of a space can shape what happens in real time.
There’s a strong sense of shared space: not a performance happening to people, but something unfolding with them. Staff often play a key role in that atmosphere too, supporting residents to engage in whatever way feels right for them on the day.
Recent performances in care settings by the Aloysius Duo — composer-pianist Reese Manglicmot and saxophonist Christopher Lo — brought together music by Rachmaninov and Debussy with traditional Scottish repertoire like “Loch Lomond”. The balance between familiar and new often proves important, with audiences responding in different ways depending on what resonates most in the moment. There’s a real sense of give-and-take: no two sessions feel the same, because no two groups of people are the same.
For Reese and Christopher, that connection is at the heart of their work:
“When we approach performances in care settings, our mindset is very much about building a genuine connection rather than simply delivering a programme. While we always prepare the music to the same standard as a traditional concert, the experience itself feels quite different, more personal, more flexible, and often more conversational. We try to create a relaxed atmosphere by speaking with residents, sharing a little about the music and why we enjoy it, and responding to the mood of the room in the moment.
In terms of preparation, we rehearse regularly together as we’re often working on other concert programmes too, but for care settings we adapt our programming depending on what we learn about each audience. For example, we’ve had requests for more Scottish music in the past, and “Loch Lomond” has become a piece we often return to — it’s one that consistently resonates and brings people together.
Audience interaction is a huge part of these performances. We try to be responsive — whether that means adjusting dynamics if the space is quite echoey, or choosing repertoire that invites participation. The reactions we experience can be incredibly moving: laughter, dancing, and sometimes tears. One particularly memorable moment was during “Loch Lomond,” when a group of residents living with dementia suddenly began singing along. It was a powerful reminder of how deeply music can be rooted in memory. One resident even became quite emotional, saying it made her feel like a child again. Moments like these really shift our perspective on what it means to perform; it’s not about complexity or impressiveness, but about connection and meaning.
Working in these settings has also influenced how we think about music more broadly. While we’re not able to heal people physically, we do feel strongly that music has the power to reach people emotionally in a very profound way. That’s something we carry into every performance, and it’s why we approach this work with a great deal of care and intention.
Live Music Now Scotland has been an incredibly supportive part of that journey. It offers not only opportunities to perform in meaningful contexts, but also a chance to learn from other musicians working across different areas. Being part of that community has been both inspiring and motivating, and has helped shape how we approach our work as performers.”
All photos: Katie Blair Matthews