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 post-COVID years continue to witness health concerns among a wide spectrum of affected communities necessitating innovative ways to improve physical and mental wellbeing. This site shares research output and resources from the Bespoke Music-Narration Audiovisual Collection which comprises an expanding collation of original content comprising music, narration, poetry and photography crafted to complement established therapeutic techniques and practices aimed at supporting health and wellness in clinical and home-based settings. Community engagement events are held where participants experience coaching using the website's resources along with expanding wellness creativities.
'BREATH OF LIFE'
DEEP BREATHING EXERCISES GUIDED MUSIC
Introductory Video
'AMIDST NATURE ' belongs to a series of original music crafted for surgical theatre (open-heart surgery). An outcome of translational research-in-practice, the compositions take into consideration sonic preferences of the surgeon, audiology of the environment, type and duration of the surgery, engendering novel combinations of musical scales, instrumentation, textures and sound aesthetics conducive to a successful surgical outcome.
Music Composed for Operating
Theatre Environment
Music for Mind-Body Wellness Movements
'MERIDIANS'
'Meridians' is a series of music created for wellness mind-body movements to promote 'inner energy' or 'chi' . It is crafted for health qiqong practice, an established wellness training technique that embraces mind and body exercises to foster well-being.
Meridians originated as Bespoke Music written for expert Qiqong instructors who developed new sets of movements which were premiered at the Centre for Intercultural Musicology at Churchill College, Cambridge Festival community engagement events.
The music embraces psychological and physiological components of an ancient art-form that aims to optimize mind, breath, movement and posture. The portfolio of music is shared here for anyone seeking music for their own qiqong inspired practice and choreography.
Gentle Exercises for Care Care
'Road to Recovery'
The process of gentle exercises conducted by physiotherapists in cardiac rehabilitation was scripted. The steps were narrated in a steady pulse supported by composed music to facilitate post-cardiac surgery recovery as part of a two-year study. Patients were given the option to experience the session in the English Language or in the Malay Language narration. The pulse-based narrations accompanied by music used in the research is shared here.
Instructions in English Language
Instructions in Malay Language
Progressive Muscle Relaxation
'Homecoming'
This is an established relaxation technique which involves slowly tensing and then gently relaxing specific muscle groups. It is known for its effectiveness in relieving stress and anxiety. This technique is presented here using guided instruction / 'pulse-based' narration and music. The process is systematic and progressive. Listening to recorded instructions enables a smooth transition between different targeted muscles-groups facilitated by composed music.
Instructions Narrated in English
Instructions Narrated in Malay
POSITIVE VISUALISATION
This technique is a deliberate mental practice where vivid mental images of desired outcomes are envisaged in the mind's-eye. Individuals dealing with anxiety might use it to imagine themselves calmly facing their fears. Its effectiveness is enhanced by using multiple senses including sight and sound to make the mental images feel as real as possible, a form of mental rehearsing to prime our brain and body in anticipation of more effective action. Two original poems, 'Cusp of Life' and 'Secret Places', were crafted, incorporating Bespoke Music and Imagery to enable Positive Visualisation. The concept is illustrated as 'Visual-Audiation'. An audiovisual realisation follows.
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
Music for Exercise
'Ethereal' Series
No. 1, 2 , 3, 4, 5
These sets of music are suitable for moderate exercise in the home or for jogging. The brisk tempo and juxtapositions of multiple rhythms and melodies stimulate the aural senses and propels movement in an enjoyable manner, making the exercise journey seem shorter ! 'Ethereal' has also been successfully choreographed in a dance-theatre production, demonstrating the music's ability to propel motion, movement and emotion.
BESPOKE MUSIC & NARRATION CREATORS
Prof. Dr Valerie Ross, PhD, MEd, BMus (Hons), DRSAMD
Director, Centre for Intercultural Musicology at Churchill College
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)
Head of Cardiovascular & Thoracic Dept, Hospital 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-dance theatre productions, the most recent being 'Meniti Cakerawala' comprising orchestral and electroacoustic compositions. Valerie publishes regularly on translational research,
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.
More information about Valerie's Music may be found at www.valerieross.org
Assoc. Professor
Dr Muhammad '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. Professor Abid Amir heads the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at Hospital Al-Sultan Abdullah.
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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