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Bespoke Music-Narration for Health & Wellness

Bespoke Music and Narration is the outcome of translational practice-based research co-created by composer-researcher, Dr Valerie Ross and cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr Abid Amir.  The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated health concerns among a wide spectrum of affected communities necessitating innovative ways to improve physical and mental wellbeing.  This site was created to share research output and resources from the Bespoke Music-Narration Audiovisual Collection which comprises an expanding collation of original music, narration, multi-language scripts, poetry and photography crafted to complement established therapeutic techniques and practices aimed at supporting a return to health and wellness in clinical and home-based settings. 

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             'BREATH OF LIFE'
   DEEP BREATHING EXERCISES GUIDED MUSIC

            Introductory Video 

Box Breathing
00:00 / 05:43
Diaphragmatic Breathing 6. mins
00:00 / 06:31
478 Relaxing Breath
00:00 / 05:23

'MERIDIANS' 
Music for Qiqong

Engaging psychological and physiological components to optimise mind, breath, movement, posture. Musically choreographed  

Music-Narration

         
         
             'Road to Recovery' 
                   Music-Narration for Relaxation
            
                 
                                                                           

Malay Language

English Language

Progressive Muscle Relaxation

               'Homecoming'  
               
Music-Narration Progressive Muscle Relaxation               

    Malay Language 

English Language


CONCEPT-TECHNIQUE

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    POSITIVE VISUALISATION
               Two Poems
'Cusp of Life' & 'Secret Places'

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

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 'Ethereal'
Music for Brisk Walking

 No. 1, 2 , 3, 4, 5

 Healthy Heart - Healthy Mind

Ethereal 1
00:00 / 06:48
Ethereal 2
00:00 / 05:28
Ethereal 3
00:00 / 07:27
Ethereal 4
00:00 / 06:07
Ethereal 5
00:00 / 10:57
Brisk Walking
Creators & Publications

BESPOKE MUSIC & NARRATION CREATORS

Prof. Dr Valerie Ross, PhD, MEd, BMus (Hons), DRSAMD
Director, Centre for Intercultural Musicology at Churchill College (CIM
aCC)

University of Cambridge

Affiliation : Adjunct Professor, National Academy of Arts, Culture & Heritage, Malaysia

 

Assoc Prof. Dr Muhammad 'Abid  Amir

MBBcH, BAO (Dublin), MRCS (Edin), MSurg (Malaya)

Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Hospital HASA, UiTM  

Affiliation : Fellow, Monash Medical Centre, Monash University

Professor Dr Valerie Ross

An accomplished composer - researcher and academic with several international awards and fellowships (Rockefeller Foundation, Commonwealth Foundation, Darmstadt Institute for New Music), Valerie Ross received her education at the Dartington College of Arts, UK;  Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Glasgow; University of London, UK and Deakin University, Australia. Performances of Valerie's compositions range from works for intercultural ensembles to full evening music-theatre productions. She publishes regularly on translational research

 and crafts bespoke music and produces audiovisual / multimedia content for complementary therapies. Professor Ross is a Fellow of Churchill College and the Director of the Centre for Intercultural Musicology at Churchill College,  University of Cambridge. The centre promotes creative arts-science collaboratives through conferences, forums, performances, and community engagement conducted by specialists. 

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Assoc. Professor
Dr Abid Amir

A highly experienced cardiothoracic surgeon and academic who received his medical education in Trinity College Dublin, Ireland; University Malaya and the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, Dr Abid's professional appointments and certifications are extensive including a Fellowship at Monash Medical Centre. A member of the Royal College of Surgeons, he holds certifications in Advanced Trauma Life Support, American Health Association and Cardiac Life Support, American Heart Association, among others. A recipient of awards for surgical innovations, Dr Abid has wide experience in medical practice, post graduate supervision and publishes regularly. A researcher with a passion for music and a belief in its therapeutic qualities, he co-creates arts-science creativities to complement health and wellness therapy, rehabilitation and postoperative care. He shares his music - medicine research at the Cambridge Festival, international conferences and community outreach programmes.   

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Publications & Paper Presentations on Bespoke Music-Narration 

JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS

Ross, V. & Amir, A. (2022). Bespoke Music-Narration As Complementary Therapy: Reaching Disadvantaged Communities Through Translational Music-Medicine Research, Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, Vol.18 Supp 1, Jan 2022, eISSN 26369346.  

Ross, V. (2022). Practice-Based Methodological Design for Performance-Composition and Interdisciplinary Music Research, Malaysian Journal of Music, 11(1), 109-125, eISSN 2600-9331.

Ross, V. & Amir, A. (2021). Translational Practice-Based Methodological Model for Health & Wellness in COVID-19 Times, South Asian Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities, Vol 2, issue 6, pp114-124. ISSN: 2582-7065.

Ross, V. & Amir, A. (2021). Translating Music-Medicine Research-Practice. Musical, Intersections in Practice, Centre for Intercultural Musicology in Churchill College, University of Cambridge, pp.1-8. ISBN978-1-5272-5411-1.

Ross, V. & Amir, A. (2021). COVID-19 Pandemic : Innovative Digital Tool Using Progressive Muscle Relaxation To Promote Mental Health Among Frontline Healthcare Workers, Annals of Emerging Technologies in Computing, Vol. 5 No. 5, 114-119. ISSN2516-0281.

Ross, V. & Amir, A. (2020). ‘Post-Covid-19 Challenges: Novel Approach to Promote Mental Health using Original Music and Pulse-Based Narration in Progressive Muscle Relaxation’, International Journal of Service Management & Sustainability, 5(2) 1-12. ISSN2550-1569.

Ross, V. & Amir, A. (2019). ‘Nature’s Way of Healing’ , GADING Journal of Science and Technology, 2(2), pp.64-72. ISSN 2637-0018.

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PAPER PRESENTATIONS

'Learning Disabilities : Music Interventions in Autism', 17 - 19 May 2024, Malaysian Music Education Conference.

'Mastering Deep Breathing Techniques with Guided Music', Relaxation Through Mindfulness, Motion and Music, 13 - 28 March 2024, Cambridge Festival, UK.

‘Bespoke Music-Narration for post-operative cardiac surgery patients: a randomised controlled trail’, Music, Mind, Movement, Interdisciplinary Forum, 18 March 2023, Churchill College, University of Cambridge.

‘Harnessing Chi Through Music-Movement’ and ‘Meridians’ (composition), Music, Mind, Movement, Interdisciplinary Forum and Performance, 18 March 2023, Churchill College, University of Cambridge.

‘Bespoke Music & Poetic Imagery in Nature Minds', Audio-Visual Creation, 31 March- 10 April 2022, Cambridge Festival 2022, University of Cambridge.

‘Bespoke Music-Narration for Community Health and Wellbeing in COVID-19 Era’, 8th International Conference on Arts and Humanities, 21-22 September, 2021.

‘Translational Practice-Based Methodological Modal’, International General Studies Conference: Embracing Technology in Teaching and Learning in the New Norm, 7-8 September 2021.

‘Music in Rehabilitation to Foster Health & Wellness Among Disadvantaged Communities’, Webinar, Social Security Organisation (Perkeso)-Return to Work Disability Management Series, 24 August 2021.

‘Teaching Practice-Centred Research Methodology in Music’, Malaysian Music Education Conference, 20-22 August 2021.

‘Bespoke Music & Narration to Promote Health and Wellness in Covid-19 times’, Webinar, Cambridge Festival, 26 March – 4 April 2021. 

‘Post-COVID-19 Challenges : A Novel Approach to Promote Mental Health Using Original Music and Pulse-Based Narration in Progressive Muscle Relaxation, 1st Global Summit on Viral-immunology and Antiviral therapy of COVID-19, 25-26 November 2020.

‘Covid-19 Pandemic: Digital Tool Using Progressive Muscle Relaxation’, Global Research Conference, 16-18 October 2020.

‘Cusp of Life: Soul of the Heart Reimagined’, 7th International Conference on Arts and Humanities, 17-18 September 2020.

‘Bespoke Music and Narration for Cardiac Rehabilitation: A Contemporary Framework for Translational Research in Music and Medicine’, International Conference on Musical Intersections in Practice, 25-26  October 2019.                                               

‘Power of Music on Health During MCO’, Webinar, Stay Safe Online – UiTM Research Live Webinar Series 2020, 28 April 2020.

‘Bespoke Music & Narration for Cardiac Rehabilitation: ‘Road to Recovery’, Melaka International Intellectual Exposition (MIIEX2019 – Gold Medal Award for Innovation), Humanising Technology : Enable the Disabled, e-Monograph, 6-8 August 2019.

‘Sonic Design for Progressive Muscle Relaxation for Cardiac Rehabilitation’, International Conference on Social Science, Science and Technology, 7-8 August 2019.

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©2024 Valerie Ross & Abid Amir

All rights reserved
UK ©CS Reg No 284729109

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