Sweet Tonic - Campbelltown Arts Centre

A 30-week program funded by the Australia Council for the Arts aims to lift the self-esteem and health of older people by teaching them to sing.

Sweet Tonic is managed by Musica Viva Australia in partnership with the Campbelltown Arts Centre, in Western Sydney.

The program comprises two 30-week residencies, each with an intake of 30 local people from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Participants attend a two-hour weekly session run by music professionals, before performing at the arts centre for an audience of family and friends.

Tim Matthies, artistic administrator at Musica Viva, said the format is based on the highly successful and well established schools program run by his organisation.

‘We’ve been heavily involved in music education for youth but we haven’t looked enough at the other end of the spectrum,’ said Tim.

He said that voice work had been chosen because ‘a lot of people are more open to using their voice. Anyone can sing and be taught to sing in tune’.

Penny Stannard, program manager at Campbelltown Arts Centre, said that Sweet Tonic would be ‘affordable and accessible’ for older people from many different backgrounds in the area.

‘Campbelltown Council has identified the need for social and cultural activities for our older people,’ said Penny. ‘We’ve worked with Musica Viva previously and found their model is a good fit for us.’

Penny said that participants in the programs were found through the extensive networks built up by previous cultural projects.

Many research studies have shown that the benefits of participating in musical activity are real and quantifiable. Research on the health and well-being of the participants was carried out prior to the start of workshops. Similar tests will take place at the conclusion of the project and results will be collated and analysed by Professor Elaine Lally of the University of Western Sydney.

A 1995 report commissioned by the Australia Council found that people aged over 65 are much less likely to participate in artistic activity.

Sweet Tonic addresses many of the barriers to participation – such as cost, access, lack of social interaction and lack of information.

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Victoria McClelland-Fletcher
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