Upbeat - live jazz in healthcare settings
Upbeat will deliver live melodic jazz performances in healthcare settings, enhancing wellbeing for patients, visitors & staff.
With twelve years of experience in NHS settings across the Midlands and North West, we offer a flexible duo which can respond to the needs & desires of the locations we'll perform in. Our work is backed by research on music's therapeutic benefits, and we create uplifting, high-quality performances that bring moments of joy and connection to those in clinical environments.
A vital part of Upbeat is that the music we play isn't just for our audiences – it's chosen by them. Whether it's a nurse who requested a favourite song at our previous visit or a patient asking for a track in the moment, our repertoire is constantly shaped by the people we're playing to. This real-time, personal connection isn't just a nice touch – it's at the heart of what makes Upbeat work. When someone hears the song they asked for, the joy, recognition, and emotional lift are immediate – and those ripples spread through the whole ward, through the hospital and beyond. Our sample set lists are created entirely from audience requests from our previous sessions.
Research on benefits of music in healthcare settings
Extract from the National Centre for Creative Health / Live Music Now paper:
Evaluation of the 2022-2023 participatory concert programme (from 75 returns from 71 settings) has shown clear improvements in mood and engagement for [dementia] residents:
- 100% of settings reported a positive mood response to the activity from the participants
- 87% reported the highest mood scores in the participants during the sessions, and 93% after the session, up from a score of 7% before the activity
- 98% reported that the residents engaged with the performance and the musicians, with a shift from 79% before to 85% during to 94% afterwards
- 1. Bringing the benefits of live music to care homes and hospitals - Alzheimer's Society [2024]
- 2. Live Music Now – Improving health and wellbeing for the whole care community - NCCH
- 3. Live music in hospital oncology settings: environmental, social, and individual outcomes - Bradt & Dileo [2021]
- 4. Bringing live music to adults and children across healthcare - Music in Hospitals & Care [2018]
- 5. A cure for the soul? The benefit of live music in the general hospital - O'Callaghan & McDermott [2007]
Top Feedback Videos Photos Sample set lists
Feedback from patients, visitors and staff
Dear Sir / Madam,
Had appointment today with medical retinal.
On leaving the hospital, I had to take a seat and listen to the wonderful sounds from Chris playing the piano.
I sat for over half an hour. So many people stopped to listen, big smiles all around.
Thank you for asking Chris to play such wonderful songs to patients visiting Manchester Eye Hospital.
Very uplifting on a gloomy day.
Yours faithfully, E. Brierley
P.S. Hope he's a regular.
Matt's trumpet playing sounded fantastic in the reception area. All the patients I spoke to enjoyed the carols - as did I! A great way to start December.
Your music gave me goosebumps! I heard you playing from my ward and had to come see you play!
It's my favourite time of year when you guys come to play. We were all hoping to see you!
Can I just say: we absolutely love having you guys here. All the staff and patients are smiling in DAU!
I'm heading home now but the music made the end of my shift so lovely.
I heard some music and just had to find you. It's wonderful!
Matt's playing lifted our spirits and the café loved singing along!
I really love this music. It feels like Christmas.
You've brought a lot of happiness to people. Simply fabulous.
It's just so nice and relaxing on a busy day, hearing you play.
Top Research Videos Photos Sample set lists
Videos
Top Research Feedback Photos Sample set lists
More photos
Top Research Feedback Videos Sample set lists
Sample set lists
Our sample set lists are created entirely from audience requests from our previous sessions. A vital part of Upbeat is that the music we play isn't just for our audiences – it's chosen by them. When someone hears the song they asked for, the joy, recognition, and emotional lift are immediate – and those ripples spread through the whole ward, through the hospital and beyond.
Swingin' Through the Years
Rat Pack / Swing Classics
- Fly Me to the Moon
- The Way You Look Tonight
- Beyond the Sea
- Misty
- Moon River
- L-O-V-E
- My Funny Valentine
- The Girl from Ipanema
- Cheek to Cheek
- As Time Goes By
Tunes for Little Dreamers
Children’s / Family-Friendly
- The Bare Necessities (The Jungle Book)
- Let It Go (Frozen)
- Beauty and the Beast
- Can You Feel the Love Tonight (The Lion King)
- Over the Rainbow (The Wizard of Oz)
- You've Got a Friend in Me (Toy Story)
- Go The Distance (Hercules)
- Love Is An Open Door (Frozen)
- Monsters Inc.
- Under The Sea (The Little Mermaid)
Silver Screen Serenade
Film, TV & Video Game Themes
- Part of Your World (The Little Mermaid)
- When I See an Elephant Fly (Dumbo)
- Sesame Street Theme
- A Whole New World (Aladdin)
- Super Mario World (Overworld)
- I Wanna Be Like You (The Jungle Book)
- Chim Chim Cher-ee (Mary Poppins)
- Jump Up, Super Star (Super Mario)
- The Legend of Zelda Theme
- Family Guy Theme
- Meet the Flintstones