A new block of sessions for Breath Cycle, Scottish Opera’s project designed to benefit those suffering from a range of conditions affecting lung health, in particular Long COVID, begin online on January 26.
Breath Cycle has been highly successful in its first term, with participants reporting improvement in a range of areas, such as anxiety, loneliness and confidence in addition to benefits to their physical health. One said they could ‘already tell (Breath Cycle) will be of great support’ to them, with another adding the online workshops ‘brightened up’ their week.
During a series of relaxed and sociable weekly sessions, a team of musicians from the company will work with participants introducing them to fun and stimulating songs, vocal exercises and breathing techniques. The benefits of singing regularly are widely recognised, from improved lung function, posture and circulation, to a strengthened immune system and core, better breath control, as well as relief from stress and anxiety. Made with support from key NHS consultants and physiotherapists, the first Breath Cycle sessions took place at the end of last year, and the third block will be in April.
In addition to the singing sessions, those interested in taking part can sign up for new online song writing workshops led by former Scottish Opera composer-in-residence Gareth Williams, and performance poet Martin O’Connor. Whatever the participant’s musical or lyrical style, they will introduce the tools and methods needed to get music out of heads and down on paper.
The songs that come out of these workshops, alongside those created by Gareth and Martin themselves, will be arranged and recorded by Scottish Opera to create a free digital resource for individuals, choirs and singing groups worldwide, called ‘The Covid Composers Songbook’, as a positive musical legacy.
Jane Davidson, Scottish Opera’s Director of Outreach and Education said: ‘We’re delighted to be able to offer the programme for a second term starting in January. The Breath Cycle workshops have proven to be a perfect way for our participants, all of whom suffer from Long Covid or other long term lung conditions, to take a moment for their own wellbeing each week. Working across both singing and song writing workshops led by our highly skilled and experienced professional artists, Breath Cycle group members are able to learn new skills in singing, which enables them to improve breathing and posture. The additional song writing workshops allow participants to explore feelings and emotions related to their physical health and gives anyone who wishes to, the chance to be a songwriter. Most importantly, the programme is fun and delivered in a relaxed way, meaning that group members often take part for social reasons above everything else.’
Gordon MacGregor, Respiratory Consultant at the Department of Respiratory Medicine of Queen Elizabeth University Hospital said:‘Breath Cycle has been a fantastic project which was first launched in 2013 for people with Cystic Fibrosis. These new sessions provide a platform to work with patients with a range of lung conditions which allows them to exercise their lungs while having fun. This is absolutely key as it keeps them engaged and active in their lung health programme – it’s easy to take part and it’s rewarding.
‘We know how important lung health is to our overall wellbeing, and particularly now, where we’re seeing new patients who may be suffering from breathing issues related to Long Covid, so any treatment which can help address that and offers patients a treatment plan they can stick to, is a positive step.’
The Breath Cycle project was originally created by Scottish Opera and Glasgow’s Gartnavel General Hospital Cystic Fibrosis Service to explore whether learning classical singing techniques, including breath control, could improve the wellbeing of cystic fibrosis patients. Due to the high risk of infection for those with cystic fibrosis, the project also explored how patients might interact safely with each other, using the internet as a means of meeting, learning and building new communities. The materials were created as part of a study into how singing techniques, including breathing exercises could replicate the effects of conventional physiotherapy to increase lung function.
Those interested in signing up for Breath Cycle should contact katie.poulter@scottishopera.org.uk.