News
An independent evaluation on the National Concert Hall’s Music Programme for Children in Hospital which is led by Kids’ Classics was launched on 20 October 2015. The report entitled ‘The Bare Necessities of Life: Reactions to Kids’ Classics Live Music in a Children’s Hospital in Ireland’ was commissioned by the National Concert Hall and The Community Foundation for Ireland.
The evaluation was undertaken to document the evidence of the impact of Kids’ Classics music activities in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin. The project team included evaluation consultant Dr Anneli Haake (co-principal investigator from April 2015), Carol Hilliard (co-principal investigator) and Deirdre Fullerton (co-principal investigator January-March 2015). A Steering Group was established which comprised of Helen Beatty (The Community Foundation for Ireland), Nigel Flegg (NCH), Carol Hilliard (OLCHC), and Gráinne Hope (Kids’ Classics).
Kids’ Classics is a non-profit organisation that designs, manages and delivers professional music projects and programmes in healthcare, educational and community settings around Ireland. The organisation was set up in 2008 by professional cellist Gráinne Hope with a view to taking music off the concert stage and into the local communities through professionally tailored music workshops. Its core mission is to provide access to high quality participative music and creative performance opportunities to everyone in society regardless of their social, economic or medical circumstances.
All Kids’ Classics musicians are full-time professionals and qualified hospital musicians with the collective experience of working in acute and chronic medical settings in hospitals across Ireland, the UK and Europe. In partnership with the National Concert Hall and the Community Foundation for Ireland (CFI), Kids’ Classics has been providing a programme of music in children’s hospitals since 2009.
The evaluation results indicate that Kids’ Classics live music programme:
- Distracted children from their illness
- Enhanced children’s relaxation
- Provided stimulation and learning opportunities
- Improved the atmosphere on the ward
The research data reveals that:
- 92% of children liked the music and felt happy afterwards
- 100% of staff said the music is beneficial for the children
- 100% of parents felt the music made their children happy
- 100% of parents said it improved the atmosphere
- 86% of children would like to listen again
‘The Bare Necessities of Life – Reactions to Kids’ Classics Live Music in a Children’s Hospital in Ireland’ is now available in print and online here, together with a supporting video.
