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Susan & John bring Music Gym to Horntye Park

Susan Heath and John Ballard

Susan Heath and John Ballard

A remarkable event is happening every Friday morning in the sports hall at Horntye Park Sports Complex on Bohemia Road. The Music Gym, run by Decoda, a non-profit-making organisation based in Robertson Street, provides an opportunity to experience and even to make music for people with profound disabilities through various pieces of apparatus that effectively function as musical instruments.
 At first sight on the day the Voice paid a visit, the set-up in the hall resembled a village fete. On one side of the room three or four people bounced gently inside an inflatable castle, while a canvas gazebo stood a little way distant, a microphone stand craning its neck towards someone sitting in the entrance. On the opposite wall children’s bubbles fell benignly through a basketball hoop onto anyone who stood underneath, while two men in a cricket net slowly danced upon a strange assortment of coloured carpet squares.
 To the casual observer it was not immediately clear what was going on. But it was obvious that those involved were enjoying themselves. It took Music Gym organiser Susan Heath to explain. ‘The people who come here are all profoundly disabled. When they interact with these structures they trigger music. For example, inside the gazebo there’s a sound beam that’s set off when the beam is crossed, and there’s also vibro-acoustic seating that offers people a physical as well as a musical experience. In the bouncy castle, different music is triggered dep-ending on where you stand, while those carpet squares are pads that also trigger different bits of music, as well as shadows on the wall.’
 The Music Gym’s apparatus has been developed by Susan’s husband, Tom Smurthwaite, and John Ballard, both of them blues musicians of vast experience. Tom has always had an interest in technology, and the challenge of reaching people with profound disablities led to this radical new approach to music-making. ‘We used to take musicians into day centres,’ says Susan, ‘but we came to realise that there were always people on the edge of things, so we tried to work out how to get everyone in-volved. The Music Gym is the result.’
 Susan marvels at what some of those who attend the Music Gym have ach-ieved since it started. ‘One man walked up and down the hall for weeks and then one week he sat down with the sound beam. Another woman  learnt to walk unaided here. The space certainly helped her. Most of the people who come here wouldn’t have access to a large space like this one. In that regard, it’s as much physical exercise as musical experience. Active Hastings have helped us a bit in the past because in their judgement we take disability sport to another level.’
 The Gym has been running for two years at the same venue. The first year was funded by money from central government, but since then individuals or individual care homes have had to pay for sessions, though even then the cost is subsidised with money from a charitable trust. ‘We have people at the moment who can’t afford to come.’ Susan says. ‘Some of those who came in the fully funded first year can’t afford it any longer.’ She says the only way that some people could attend the sessions would be through sponsorship. ‘If there are local companies or individuals who’d be interested in sponsoring anyone, we’d love to hear from them. Carers attend for free, but each client is charged £15 per session. We only operate in term time, so a whole year, comprising 36 sessions, costs £540.’
 Susan is also keen to hear from any reliable volunteers who might be able to spare a few hours on a Friday morning to help set up and take down the apparatus. ‘Horntye Park gives us some help with setting up and storage, but we’re always in need of more. There’s some light lifting involved but it’s not very strenuous. It might suit someone who’s retired and prefers to do something active. ‘
 The Music Gym sessions, which must be booked in advance, run every Friday during term-time at Horntye Park, from 10am until 12.30pm. For further information, ring Decoda on 444322 or email them at enquiries@decoda.org.

Adel with Tom Smurthwaite

Adel with Tom Smurthwaite


Music Gym bouncy castle

Music Gym bouncy castle

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