Brighton and Hove Music for Connection

06/03/2026

Moments like these are exactly why we do what we do...

05/03/2026

Music as 'a gentle bridge'...

Our recent Music & Motion session at Jubilee Library began with a screen partitioned across the room. On the other side was We Are The Tree - a Sussex-based organisation dedicated to the inclusion, dignity, and empowerment of refugees and the migrant diaspora https://www.wearethetree.org/

While we were separated by a physical barrier at first, we soon realised how much we shared: a commitment to holistic psychosocial wellbeing, the fostering of belonging, and a belief in the power of creative expression

The "bridge" between our two groups started with the smallest of gestures. A toddler from their group wandered around the corner of the screen, curious about the sounds. We offered her a musical shaker, and she made a beautiful, instant connection with 'M', one of our participants living with dementia

For the first twenty minutes, this little girl peeked in and out from behind the screen, getting closer. Soon, there were huge smiles and the two were tapping shakers together in perfect rhythm

The curiosity spread and the adults from 'We Are The Tree' began to look over, too. We pushed the screen back, removing the division. What followed was a powerful, spontaneous transformation of the space

Shakers were handed out, and suddenly, at least seven adults joined our group. Our little library space transformed into a dance floor and we danced to 12-bar blues, Rock Around the Clock, and Blue Suede Shoes! One of the adults took M’s hand, and they smiled and danced together

Other library-goers were curious - this was a rare, transgenerational, and multicultural moment brought together entirely through music. It was a beautiful reminder that music is the ultimate leveller - a gentle bridge that can connect any two communities, no matter how different they may seem

Thank you, Brighton & Hove City Libraries for providing the space for these magical, moving moments to happen

Much of our work has been made possible thanks to players (Awards for All) and players of

We Are The Tree | Empowering Refugees Through Healing & Community Connection

05/03/2026

We had such a lovely session with UOK recently 💕

04/03/2026

Taking more than the music home... 🌼🎻

In a world that often feels chaotic, this week’s Silver Strings session offered a much-needed dose of optimism and simple, human connection

We’ve been celebrating St David’s Day in style! Our session turned into a rousing tribute to traditional Welsh music, with a lovely rendition of Cwm Rhondda. For one of our participants, it was a lovely bridge to the past. He commented “My dad used to sing this to me". We love moments where a melody unlocks a memory

As a surprise, someone had thoughtfully brought a bunch of daffodils for our Programme Manager, Bela, who is Welsh! Bela invited everyone to take a bloom home. Our WhatsApp group has since been full of photos of the daffodils opening up in everyone's homes. It’s a lovely example of people "taking more than just the music home with them"

We're busy rehearsing for a very special event on Friday 13th March. We'll be hosting a retirement party for Rupert Hensser at the Brooke Mead Extra Care Scheme. Rupert has been at Brooke Mead since the very start...and so have we! To celebrate his final day, Silver Strings will be performing alongside our usual Friday music group. It promises to be a morning of celebration, music, and our gratitude for years of shared history

26/02/2026

Pleased to finally share with you Alexandra Ena's video of Listening in and with cracks (workshop of Elona Hoover, Matthieu Lebrun & Bela Emerson) at the FACTS festival in Bordeaux in November, as part of the Ambimuse event in Talence

Bela reported back that it was 'a wonderful opportunity for me to work with Elona and Matthieu - and the Ambimuse / FACTS / University of Bordeaux team - and to share practice internationally in this way"

19/02/2026

“I feel lighter...what a treat!” 🎻

Are you curious about what happens when you pick up a violin or cello without the pressure of "getting it right"?

Our all-abilities bowed strings jam is returning to Brighthelm, and we would love for you to be part of it. We'll be offering a space where there is no right or wrong note, only exploration, listening, and the joy of creating music in the moment

Wednesday 18th March
2:30 pm – 3:45 pm


Whether you are a confident musician or have never held a bow in your life, you are equally welcome. We provide the instruments (violins, violas, and cellos)

We'll focus on playfulness and self-expression, allowing music to emerge naturally from the group

What our participants say:

"It’s so freeing to play without music"

"I was flabbergasted at how much I enjoyed it. I've never held a stringed instrument before and I just loved getting a note out of the cello"

"When I learned violin as a child I was never told to listen to the instrument. This is the first time I'm listening to the sounds I'm making - it's lovely"

We'll aim for a session which is light-hearted, supportive, and focused on wellbeing

Free places for those aged 50+ (funded by our partners). Adults under 50 are very welcome for a small donation

Come and experience the magic of playing with others and hearing what happens when we just listen and join in!

🎟️ Booking is essential so we can prepare an instrument for you:
📧 hello@musicforconnection.co.uk

Much of our work has been made possible thanks to players (Awards for All) and players of

17/02/2026

Here are Brighthelm's brilliant Steve and Clare, who have been helping Silver Strings for over ten years: welcoming us with smiles every week, having the room ready, and making things work really well for all the people who come and make music with us. Thank you, both, for all you do!

11/02/2026

Only a few days to go! Rediscover your surroundings, this Monday 🌿👂

Monday 16th February
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Jubilee Library & Square

With Monday fast approaching, we invite you to pause the "daily rush" and join us for a playful, absorbing experience that uses your ears as a guide. This isn't just a walk; it’s an inclusive, interactive exploration of Brighton’s shared spaces, using creative listening tools to open up a world of sensory awareness

“Wonderful! This has opened up a whole new world for me” – Previous Participant

This session involves a gentle amount of slow walking (under one mile in total) through the library and the square. We'll be stopping frequently to stand, listen, and observe

Flat, accessible surfaces with a mild-to-moderate walking difficulty

If rain is heavy, we will move the entire experience comfortably indoors

Please wear supportive walking shoes and warm layers. Don't forget to bring some water!

No prior experience with sound walks or music-making is needed - all you need is a bit of curiosity.

This session is funded for adults aged 50+. Those under 50 are very welcome to join us for a small donation

If you have any questions or concerns about the walking distance or the listening aspect, please reach out to us for a chat

Booking is essential to ensure a supportive group size: https://www.facebook.com/events/1168019628832420
📧 Contact: hello@musicforconnection.co.uk
📞 01273 569096

11/02/2026

A spontaneous music-making session... 🥁✨

Wednesday 4th March (three weeks today!)
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Brighthelm Centre

Step out of the everyday and into a space of creative discovery. Join Anna and Bela for a lighthearted hour of "in-the-moment" music-making, where the only tools you need are an open mind and a willing ear

We usually start by tuning in to our surroundings, then begin building a unique soundscape together. Using everything from body percussion and found sounds to voices and a variety of instruments, we’ll create one-of-a-kind pieces of music that exist only for that moment

Is this for me? Absolutely. This session is designed for everyone, especially those who think they "aren't musical." No 'wrong notes' here, only exploration!

Free for adults aged 50+ (funded by the National Lottery and Postcode Society). Under-50s are welcome to join us for a small donation

“Welcoming, fun, patient facilitators, who made us feel safe and comfortable”

Find out more:
🎫 https://bit.ly/3LZdQUB
🌐 musicforconnection.co.uk
📧 hello@musicforconnection.co.uk
📞 01273 569096

We can’t wait to hear what we create together!

Much of our work has been made possible thanks to players (Awards for All) and players of

04/02/2026

A different kind of invitation:

As we move through the middle of February, the city is beginning to shift. Even in the depths of winter, our local environment is full of subtle sounds and changes that we often overlook in our daily rush

🌿👂Interactive Listening Quest 🌿👂

Monday 16th February - Jubilee Library - 1:30 PM

If you're looking to break out of your winter routine, we invite you to step out of the cold and try something a bit different. Our Interactive Listening Quest isn't a typical music session; it is a playful, mindful exploration of sound designed to help you refresh your perspective

In a world that is so often dominated by what we see, this is a chance to experiment with how we listen. Whether you are a seasoned 'listener' or simply someone looking for a creative way to stay active and engaged this February, you are very welcome to join us

🌿🏢👂Mindful, curious, and focused on the sounds of our city.

🌿🏢👂No musical experience necessary—just an open mind.

🌿🏢👂Free for over-50s (small donation for under-50s).

Staying connected and socially active during these transitional months is vital for our wellbeing. Come and find a sense of quiet joy in the everyday sounds of Brighton...

🎟️ Space is limited: https://tinyurl.com/4mhzaudk

02/02/2026

Our recent residency at a local Brighton college for young people with learning disabilities has offered a wonderful reminder of the power of enrichment through collective music-making

Facilitated by Anna and Bela, these five sessions incorporate a blend of listening, body percussion, and instrumental exploration

Anna and Bela said that it was great to see a shared musical 'dialogue' between students, staff, and facilitators. In the most recent session, a spontaneous song emerged from a simple rhythmic exercise based on...our favourite foods! The final song (complete with lyrics about the car journey to collect the food, and being stuffed full, afterwards!) came to life in a jam session using cello, percussion, and plenty of singing

The group will now use the song as a way to explore more musical ideas. Over the next few weeks, the students will lead the group, moving beyond simple "start and stop" cues to help the band play faster, slower, louder, and quieter

With this lovely group of students and support staff, we've seen how sessions encourage a sense of sharing and joining in. We'll hopefully be able to share the song soon!

28/01/2026

Great to be delivering some sessions, this term, for St. John's College enrichment programme. Here's Anna!