The Parkinsongsters

On Monday 18 December, the ParkinSongsters sang a selection of traditional Christmas carols and seasonal songs at St John’s Church Hall, Brittany Road, Saint Leonards-on-Sea. It was a magnificent performance, with beautiful, uplifting singing and harmonies.

The choir was conducted excellently by Jane Metcalfe, who not only led the choir, but also directed the large and enthusiastic audience, to join in and sing at appropriate moments within the programme.

ParkinsonSongsters was founded by Diane Baker, in 2010, She was chair of the local Parkinsons UK branch at the time and her vice-chair, Allan Barfield who had lived with Parkinson’s for some time, mooted the idea of starting a voice group.

“He wanted to set up a voice group, because when you were referred to a speech therapist, it was only for a limited number of weeks, and then it would stop abruptly. So he decided  to set up a therapeutic voice group, because of the great benefits of working with the voice for people with Parkinson’s”, said Diane.

They spoke to Karen McNally, a speech therapist at the Conquest, and she suggested that they get in touch with Jane Metcalfe. “So we met up with Jane and everything took off from there in 2010. We started with voice exercises and simple songs to help limber up the voice, and it has been growing successfully since then!”

A rich and full sound

I mentioned to Diane that the rich and full sound of the choir seemed much larger than the number of people involved, and she replied “yes, it always surprises me whenever I stop singing for a moment and listen to them. I am so pleased with their progress. Part of it is, for the participants, the pure joy of being able to stand up in front of a group of people and to sing for them. They are very nervous at first. I remember two people who joined us for a previous concert at Saint John’s Church and they were very self-conscious and just wanted to sit in the back row, saying that they did not want to be seen. At the end of the concert, they said how lovely the experience had been and they asked if we could please do it again very soon. That is the great impact that singing has on people. It is absolutely uplifting.”

I spoke with a few of the participants at the concert, who confirmed these sentiments.

Chris, who has been singing with the choir for just over a year, told me, that “singing in a group was very relaxing and that the exercises had helped him greatly with his physical symptoms and also the benefit of not feeling “nearly as self-conscious in a group with others in the same situation.”

Sandra, who joined the choir two years ago, told me that, “the singing has strengthened my voice and my voice projection. Whereas before, my voice used to just tail off, it no longer does that. Before, I had trouble swallowing, which is one of the Parkinson’s symptoms, but the voice and breathing exercises that Jane teaches us, strengthens the muscles, and helps so much, that swallowing is no longer a problem. We boost one another, and it all gives us a positive frame of mind. We hardly ever talk about Parkinson’s when we are together, we talk about everything else!”

A very inclusive choir

The choir also welcomes carers and family member. Annette, who is Tony’s wife, also sings in the choir and “thoroughly enjoys“ the singing experience. Another member of the group, who was in a wheelchair, told me that “the breathing exercises had helped him to sleep at night, which always used to be a problem. I have trouble walking now, but the singing is one of the few things that I actually come out for. The socialising part of it is very important to me.”

Several of the choir members mentioned to me that their condition had made them very self-conscious in the public sphere and, by singing in the choir, they overcame their self consciousness completely.

Three cheers for the two Janes

Jane Metcalfe, who conducted the concert with great assurance, had a career in opera, and was a principal singer with the D’Oyly Carte and other opera companies in the UK. She taught singing to Music Therapy students at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama for many years, and now, as well as leading the ParkinSongsters gives private lessons in Hastings.

When I told Jane that several members of the choir had spoken with affection and enthusiasm about her teaching methods, she seemed surprised. “I work them very hard!” she laughed.

She then told me that she uses a varied combination of techniques, including traditional voice and breathing techniques and Chi gong exercises. “I also use playful and silly exercises, to help engage and keep the members focused and engaged.”

As a bonus for the concert, actress Jane Brooman gave an excellent and evocative reading of the poem Christmas, by John Betjeman.

Anyone with Parkinson’s and their carers are welcome to join the choir. More information can be found on the ParkinSongsters website: www.parkinsongsters.co.uk

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