× Clarification: This article was created for Eagle Radio by Greer Riddell not January Media.

Watch: Music Therapy Choir Helping Surrey Parkinson's Sufferers

Created by Greer Riddell in Portfolio for Eagle Radio on 30 Aug 2017

See how a Guildford choir is using music to help treat Parkinson’s disease. Motivation By Music has been specially formed to help improve coordination and keep participants active.

Watch our Parkinson's Choir Guildford Video on YouTube.

Motivation By Music is an organisation in Guildford, Surrey who seek to inspire people through music from corporate team-building to gospel workshops and living room sessions.

The organisation is run by Emily Bollon, ex University of Surrey President and singing teacher who was recently awarded a Local Heroes Award by Eagle Radio, Surrey’s Local Radio Station.

Emily runs several different choirs catering for all needs and abilities.

“I joined the Motivation By Music Gospel Choir when it started about four years ago and I love it it's the best part of my week. It's like my weekly therapy session to go along and sing for two hours.”

“We've performed at events at Guildford Cathedral, at residential care homes… I started off thinking I can't sing I'll stay in the back row nobody will need to hear me and gradually you get drawn into the front.”

Motivation By Music And Parkinson’s Disease

Motivation By Music runs choirs specifically for those with Parkinsons in Surrey called Parkinsong Voices.

The Guildford Parkinson’s Choir aims to:

Improve posture, movement and muscle coordination
Relieve stress from anxiety
Enhance facial expressions
Clarity of speech

“The Parkinson's group gospel choir started in September last year and it's still going strong, it's stronger than ever. We started with a very very small group and it's grown to about 20 and I'm absolutely thrilled because it's so easy for Colin to not go to events and things.”

“You shut down a bit and you don't want to go because you don't feel confident but this is really amazing and it does good for his voice because you know everything goes quieter and voices get quieter so we're projecting we're learning.”

Motivation By Music’s Parkinson’s Choir is held at Biscombe Church (GU7 3RF) on Friday’s between 1PM-2PM.

Motivation By Music Recieves A Local Heroes Award

Emily Bollon recently won a Local Heroes Award presented by Surrey and Hampshire’s local radio station Eagle Radio for her work in motivating those suffering with Parkinsons with music. The above documentary was made by Greer Riddell for Eagle Radio to celebrate her achievements.

“Em always says if you can talk you can sing. It's a very scary place for a lot of people and so she makes them feel safe and makes them…that they are talented and she brings she best out of people.”

“She's technically really knowledgeable and relentlessly encouraging and [she’s]enabled me to have the confidence to sing and really enjoy it more and more”

“I think her own work is beautifully arranged and deeply meaningful from personal experiences that she has gone through and it is a privilege it's an absolute privilege to be involved in her creative journey.”

“A lot of singing teachers can often kind of push out the same things to student a student whereas she spends the time actually working out what that student needs really working on their individual voices and really bringing out the best in their voice.”