Community Music Groups: Building Connection and Supporting Brain Health Across Australia
Community music groups in multiple Australian states are providing regular opportunities for social connection, with some focusing on support for individuals with dementia and their carers.
Dementia-Friendly Singing Group in Busselton, Western Australia
CareSong Busselton operates a dementia-friendly community singing group at the Senior Citizens Centre in Busselton, Western Australia. According to coordinator David Pilpel, the initiative is the only one of its kind in regional Western Australia. The weekly sessions include music and an afternoon tea.
Pilpel stated that music can evoke positive memories for individuals with dementia. Dementia Australia reports that over 400,000 Australians live with dementia, a number projected to increase. Pilpel initiated the program in the South West region, inspired by the positive impact music had on his late father, who had advanced dementia.
"The singing group also provides benefits for family carers, offering opportunities for socialization and mutual support, as well as allowing them to observe their loved ones engaging in the activity."
Participants Vicky Collins and Phyl Winchcombe attend weekly, noting the familiar songs and the inclusive environment. Participant Douglas Stead highlighted the social outlet provided by the group, particularly during tea breaks.
Parkbench Ukulele Players in Queensland
The Parkbench Ukulele Players group meets weekly at an RSL club in Queensland. The group has approximately 600 members, with about 100 people typically attending the weekly sessions. The group formed 12 years ago in Tewantin on the Sunshine Coast.
Founding member Lin Nolan stated the group began with five people who wanted to learn the ukulele and decided to meet weekly at a local park. The group has changed venues multiple times due to growth. Terry Nolan, Lin Nolan's husband, said the group transitioned from using paper song sheets to members using tablets for music.
The group plays genres including rockabilly, country, bluegrass, and modern rock. Most songs use three or four chords. There is no requirement to play an instrument; people may also listen, sing, or dance. Members range from beginners to advanced.
"It's about getting together, singing and enjoying music." — Lin Nolan
Lin Nolan described the group as having "a great sense of community and fun" and being "very relaxed about the playing." Group member Vanessa Schmidt said, "I love the connection and I love that people come and watch us and they get a little piece of joy for the week — we all do."
Lin Nolan, aged 77, stated that playing and listening to music helps keep her brain active by requiring her to remember songs and chords, and that "getting together... is so important for mental health."
Community Choirs in New South Wales Illawarra Region
Two community choirs in the New South Wales Illawarra region have been reported as providing social benefits, including making friends and processing grief.
Choir at Wombarra Bowling Club
The choir at Wombarra Bowling Club was launched by director Victoria Carrier, who works at suicide prevention organization Roses in the Ocean. Carrier described the weekly singalong as a "direct call to suicide prevention" intended to create a space for emotional regulation and social connection. Attendees include newcomers seeking friends and individuals dealing with grief.
Attendee Leah Russell stated she joined after a friend's cancer diagnosis and found the choir allowed her to be around people without needing to talk. Carrier noted that members described the choir as an "antidote to loneliness."
Slapdash Choir in Thirroul
Run by speech pathologist Elliot Peck, the Slapdash Choir in Thirroul attracts about 100 choristers weekly, ranging in age from one to 100 years old. Attendee Tanya Mitchell, a lawyer who moved from Sydney, said that singing in five-part harmonies with 120 people creates a "warm hug feeling" and leaves her feeling revived despite arriving exhausted from work.
Research Context on Music and Dementia
A Monash University study followed more than 10,000 people aged over 70 for 10 years to examine the impact of listening to and playing music. The findings were striking:
People who frequently listened to music had a 39% lower risk of developing dementia compared to those who rarely listened to music.
Playing an instrument was associated with a 35% reduction in dementia risk.
Senior study author Joanne Ryan stated that with no cure for dementia, preventing or delaying its onset is critical. Ryan said music is "like a whole brain workout" and that brain imaging studies show a range of brain regions are activated when listening to music.
Ryan noted music can reduce stress, calm the mind, help reduce depression, and slow heart rate, and stated the cumulative benefit of these effects may help reduce dementia risk. Ryan noted the study cannot prove that starting to listen to music will stop someone from developing dementia.