SMILING SESSIONS COVID-19

During the crisis our Sessions have safely reached thousands of isolated senior citizens living in sheltered or care accommodation across the U.K, supporting their wellbeing through music and singing. Now as we continue to live in uncertain times, we hope our project will continue to support everyone who is still shielding or cut off as a result of the pandemic.

DID YOU KNOW...?

  • TV Psychologist and Mental Health Expert, Dr Arthur Cassidy
    “The array of genres and songs together with the colourful visual effects and rich tones will facilitate happy memories of events in their entire life span and add meaning to the quality of their everyday lives.”
  • Hans Christian Andersen
    “Where words fail, music speaks.”
  • Billy Joel
    “I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music.”
  • Plato
    “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.”
  • Taylor Swift
    “People haven't always been there for me but music always has.”
  • Richard Phelps, Jazz Trumpeter
    "Where there is life there is music. Where there is music, there is life."
  • McGill University, Montreal
    "Research has found that dopamine, the feel-good chemical in your brain, can be up to 9% higher when listening to music."
  • Elton John
    “Music has healing power. It has the ability to take people out of themselves for a few hours.”
  • TV Psychologist & Mental Health Expert, Dr Arthur Cassidy
    “The array of genres and songs The Smiling Sessions brings to older people, together with the colourful visual effects and rich tones, will facilitate happy memories of events in their entire life span and add meaning to the quality of their everyday lives.”

Start singing along with us – download our App here

In January 2021 we launched the third series of our virtual singalong project, the Smiling Sessions.

Throughout the pandemic, our Sessions have safely reached thousands of isolated people, young and old, supporting their wellbeing and mental health through music.

We created our digital Smiling Sessions – which were previously live participatory singalong events  in care homes – in April 2020 in response to Covid-19, when so many people became isolated and in need of support.

A free virtual video jukebox of popular and uplifting songs, the online series are performed by our professional musicians – Pete Baikie, Neil Herd and Alison Jones – and sometimes joined by a celebrity guest.

Our sessions come with on screen lyrics and anyone can singalong by using our easy-to-use app – www.smilingsessions.com 

We offer help to anyone having trouble accessing our Sessions: smiling@shapeshifter-productions.com

We are as committed as ever to raising awareness of the impact singing has on health and well-being and to highlight the terrible isolation many people are still experiencing.

If you have been inspired to support our ever-growing project, please consider making a donation.

Donate

Please consider supporting us at this time. We want to sing, connect and communicate with as many vulnerable and isolated older people as possible. Click here to make a donation

Here’s just a few shout outs some of our special guests have done for the smilingsessions.com

WORLD MUSIC DAY

HAPPY DAYS

PREVIOUS sessions

Session 12, Series 3 – I Want to Hold Your Hand

Session 10, Series 3,  Carrondale Care Home – Lean On Me

Session 9, Series 3,  Special Mother’s Day Event – Your Mother Should Know

Session 8, Series 3,  Fourways Residential Home – Stand By Me

Session 6, Series 3, Lillyburn Care Home – Reach Out I’ll Be There