What is the Lullaby Project?
The Lullaby Project pairs professional musicians with new parents and families to write a personal lullaby for their baby. The project supports maternal mental health, early childhood development and family wellbeing.
First pioneered by Carnegie Hall in New York, the Lullaby Project is run by the music outreach charity, Live Music Now. Previous Lullaby Projects have taken place in various locations around England and Wales with the help of NHS and community partners, including:
England
Cheshire & Merseyside Women’s Health and Maternity Network
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Wales
Flying Start
Swansea Bay University Health Board
Isle of Anglesey County Council
Awen Cultural Trust
SPLICE Child & Family Project, Bridgend
Alongside our partners, Live Music Now, Parents 1st are excited to be able to bring this international project to Essex for the first time!
Case study of a previous Lullaby Project, held in Toxteth, Merseyside in 2023. © Live Music Now
How the project works?
During the Lullaby Project, a dedicated musician from Live Music Now gets to know the parents and caregivers through a series of free in-person group workshops and one-to-one online sessions.
They then invite the parent to write a letter to their baby expressing personal hopes and dreams for the child. The parent works with the musician to pull out key phrases and words to form lyrics, speaking the words out loud, thinking about emphasis, rhythm and melody.
Using that groundwork, the musician then develops melodies and harmonies until the parent feels happy with the song, at which point the musician will arrange the piece, record it and share it with the parent as their own unique lullaby for their baby. The process is parent-focussed, with the musician acting as a facilitator of the parent’s musical creativity.
Musicians receive training from a Teaching Artist from Carnegie Hall to explore the process and to pass on learnings and skills from previous experience.
Objectives for the project
The Lullaby Project is part of Live Music Now’s social prescribing programme, using creative health interventions to support children, adults and families facing challenging circumstances and reduce health inequalities.
The project aims to:
Support maternal mental health
Whilst fathers, partners and other caregivers are welcome to take part, a key aim of the Lullaby Project is to promote and support maternal mental health. Research into previous Lullaby Projects has shown that participants develop a growing sense of wellbeing, self-confidence, creativity and capacity to be loving, sensitive and responsive caregivers.
Promote early childhood development
Talking and singing can soothe a child and provide important opportunities for young children to hear new vocabulary, improving their language, social and communication skills.
Strengthen family and community bonds
The writing and singing of lullabies can strengthen relationships between parents, children and their wider community members. Previous Lullaby Projects have brought members of the community together through music.
How to refer a parent?
If you're a healthcare professional and currently care for a parent who you feel could benefit from the opportunity of taking part in a Lullaby Project, please direct them to express an interest in joining a group.
Please reassure any parents who are interested that they don't need any previous songwriting or singing experience - just an interest in music and a willingness to commit to 6 sessions as part of the project.
Alternatively, you can call Parents 1st on 01268 525758 or email [email protected] for more information.