The Wandering Minstrels bring live music to cancer patients in hospital
Following the success of its first phase on dementia wards, the Wandering Minstrels programme is now bringing live music to hospital cancer patients at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton, thanks to a partnership between Derby & Burton Hospitals Charity’s Air Arts team and Sinfonia Viva.
While the programme’s purpose remains the same – to bring moments of comfort and connection through music – the approach for cancer wards has been sensitively adapted in response to staff feedback and patient needs. Many of the patients on these wards are undergoing intensive treatment, with weakened immune systems, complex symptoms, and lengthy stays in hospital.
“Music is escapism,” said one staff member. “It’s something to focus on. All the patients normally hear is beeps from machines, groans from other patients, and staff rushing around. Music is a calm in the chaos.”
As well as performing in patient bays or inviting song requests where appropriate, musicians will also focus on creating a gentle musical atmosphere in shared spaces like corridors and lounges, allowing patients to engage in a way that suits them. The emphasis on calming tones, quieter sounds, and music that respects the emotional environment may be beneficial to patients experiencing anxiety, stress and life limiting illnesses.
For some, especially in haematology, treatment can mean months of isolation from family, including children, with profound mental health implications. On the Nightingale Macmillan Unit (NMU), which supports people with advanced, life-limiting illnesses, music will form part of a wider offering of holistic care alongside therapies like massage and emotional support.
“Staff here are incredibly resilient,” said one team member on the NMU. “We choose the specialism, but really, it chooses us. It can be tough, especially with younger patients, but it’s also rewarding – especially when we get to make someone smile.”
Even for those who may appear too unwell or distracted respond outwardly, the presence of live music in hospital has a noticeable effect – slowing down the pace of the ward, lifting the mood and offering a moment of pause. Staff often describe the music as benefiting them just as much as the patients, creating a ripple effect of calm and care.
With each ward offering its own unique challenges – from patients on short chemotherapy visits in the Combined Day Unit, to long-term stays in haematology and palliative care – the programme’s success lies in its flexibility. Every piece is played with thoughtfulness, every space entered with permission and purpose.
This second phase of Wandering Minstrels represents a deeper, more tailored chapter of the project – informed by real experience and compassion. It’s not just music for music’s sake. It’s music that listens before it plays.
To find out more about Air Arts and the positive impact they have on patients visit Air Arts – Air Arts
