Music, Memories and Connection: Patient-Led Group Brings Joy to Patients at CWPT
A patient-led music appreciation group at Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust (CWPT) is bringing joy, connection and meaningful therapeutic activity to patients on older adult inpatient wards.
The music appreciation group was developed through CWPT's commitment to co-production, where patients and staff work together as equal partners to shape services and create activities that matter most to those using them.
The initiative began when a patient shared their wish to establish a music group on the ward, inspired by positive experiences of music therapy during previous admissions. Working alongside CWPT's Co-production and Lived Experience Team, the idea quickly grew into a thriving weekly music appreciation group that continues to bring patients together.
The sessions are facilitated by Robert Schmidt, a Lived Experience Engagement Facilitator (LEEF) at CWPT, who works alongside patients to ensure their voices help shape services and activities.
Robert brings both professional and personal experience to the role. Before working in co-production, he worked as a Mental Health Nurse and has also experienced mental health services as a patient. He has a lifelong love of music, having grown up playing a variety of instruments and singing in choirs, and has seen first-hand how music can bring people together, evoke memories and support wellbeing.
Robert said:
"Music has always been a huge part of my life. That's why it has been so rewarding to see the impact this group has had on patients. What makes it even more special is that it came directly from a patient's idea. My role was to listen, build relationships and help bring that idea to life."
The music appreciation group is shaped entirely by patients, who choose the music they want to listen to, discuss favourite songs and artists, sing along, and even play instruments together.
For many patients, the sessions provide far more than entertainment. Music has helped unlock cherished memories, spark conversations, boost confidence and create meaningful connections with others on the ward.
Robert added:
"I've seen patients become overwhelmed with joy when hearing songs that remind them of important moments in their lives. For people experiencing memory difficulties, it's amazing to see how music can help reconnect them with memories, lyrics and emotions that otherwise seem difficult to access. It creates opportunities for people to connect with one another in a really powerful way."
Patients who play instruments, including guitar and piano, have also begun playing together and sharing their skills with one another, helping to build confidence and friendships.
One patient involved in the group said:
"Music can take you somewhere familiar. When we're listening together, I feel more like myself. I've remembered songs I hadn't heard in years, and it's helped me connect with other people on the ward. It gives you something positive to look forward to every week."
The patient whose original idea inspired the group has since been discharged and is planning to return as a volunteer to continue supporting patients through music, demonstrating the lasting impact that co-production can have beyond an inpatient stay.
Robert has since developed a guide based on the group's success, with the hope that similar patient-led music appreciation sessions can be adopted across other CWPT wards in the future.
Jacky Vincent, Chief Nursing Officer at Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust, said:
"The positive impact of this group is clear to see and it is a much anticipated session each week, enjoyed by both patients and staff. It's a wonderful example of how small ideas can make a big difference when patients and staff work together. Seeing people reconnect with cherished memories, build friendships and experience moments of joy through music is exactly the kind of person-centred care we strive to provide."
"I am immensely proud of everyone involved, particularly the patients who helped create and shape the group and Robert for supporting their vision. This is co-production at its very best and demonstrates how lived experience can help us create services that truly meet people's needs."
The initiative highlights CWPT's commitment to ensuring people with lived experience help shape services and demonstrates how listening to patients can lead to innovative, meaningful activities that support recovery and wellbeing.
Emphasising this, Robert said:
"I believe patients can enrich services through their ideas, experiences and creativity. This group is a perfect example of what can happen when people feel heard and supported to make a difference. It's their idea, their group and their success story."