Collaborations & projects

The Buddy Beat

Out of all ArtBeat's collaborations the project which has generated most interest so far has been the award-winning community drumming group, 'The Buddy Beat'.  Founded to promote social inclusion among mental health service users, this joins up opportunities for engagement from acute in-patient care, all the way to the community.  Now in its 10th year, this award-winning drumming group for mental health service users goes from strength to strength.

And for The Buddy Beat's take on it, have a look at the video below:

An Occupational Therapist's perspective:

Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Travelling Fellowship

In 2015 Jane was awarded a prestigious Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Travelling Fellowship, enabling a two-month research trip to Asia to research the role of music making in the wellbeing of older adults. She travelled to Singapore, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia.  After visiting hospitals, community projects, theatres and working with musicians and composers, she returned with insights to further the development of this field across cultural and musical boundaries. You can download the full report here:

Other current Collaborations

Scottish Chamber Orchestra – ‘Reconnect’ Project –now in its 5th year. Jane has been principal trainer and workshop leader – working alongside musicians from the orchestra to create music with people with dementia in hospital.

Vox Liminis – ‘In Tune’: Working in three Scottish prisons, piloting and developing family music making sessions with imprisoned parents, their children, and their primary carers.

NHS Renfrewshire Mental Health Services:  Jane has an ongoing engagement with the NHS - bringing music throughout the wards in the Royal Alexandra Hospital and Dykebar Hospital, Paisley: ranging from rehab and recovery, to older adult mental health services.

previous Collaborations

Drum Circle Facilitators Guild - speaker for 2011 and 2017 conference, Myrtle Beach , USA

Asian Rhythm Facilitators Conference, Kuala Lumpur, 2016, keynote speaker and two-day ‘Therapeutic Rhythm Communication’ course.

Royal Scottish National Orchestra – consultancy for Young People in Hospital Project

Scottish Chamber Orchestra – training for ‘Reconnect’ project for people in hospital with dementia.

Taal, Inc – ‘Find your Inner Rhythm’ workshops in Pune, Bangalore, and Mumbai, India

Korean Drum Circles Research Society – half-day Therapeutic Rhythm Communication workshop

Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland - in-service workshops for music therapists

Commonwealth Games Baton Relay, Glasgow 2014 - creation of a 70 person, improvised bicycle orchestra at the Riverside Museum of Transport

Glasgow University Linguistics Department  - rhythm consultant on a project examining the relationship between rhythmic training and the perception of connected speech

Kids Classics, Ireland – rhythm skills for music in health work; lectures at Royal Irish Academy of Music

Polyphony music project, Gartnavel Hospital, Glasgow - staff training and project development

Scottish Association of Music Educators - conference workshop on Community Rhythm circles, and music for social development (4 return visits)

In-Takt, University of Dortmund, Germany -  conference for teachers of music with people with special needs 4-day extended workshop in community rhythm circles (4 return visits)

Interfaith Scotland - workshops at conferences, national launches, and youth events using music making as a tool to examine diversity, communication, and collaboration.

Strathclyde University - part-time tutor in community music

Manchester University – Guest Lecturer in music in healthcare settings (4 return visits)

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland – guest lecturer in community music

De Montfort University - lecture for Community Arts MA course

Royal School of Church Music - percussion workshop

Edinburgh International Harp Festival - world percussion workshops (3 return visits)

Presbyterian Association of Musicians (USA) - workshops for East and West coast, Montreat, and Mo-Ranch conferences 

Harmony, Hope and Healing - training for music project with the homeless in Chicago

BUPA residential care homes - staff training in music making and dementia

Music: A taste of some recent ArtBeat collaborations on drums, percussion and vocal...

 The Ha Orchestra - the Scottish African Orchestra

Margaret McLarty's new album,  'Brigid's Birds'.

WGRG 'Enemy of Apathy' (with Hinba) 

Tom Mikkelson - 'Mend'