Accordionist and piper bring 'joy' to Scottish care home residents with live music sessions

A care home in Scotland is hosting regular live music sessions featuring an accordionist and a piper, with residents saying the performers bring “so much joy”.

Pine Villa care home run by Mansfield Care now has monthly live performances from Matthew Maclennan, an accordionist, who plays traditional Scottish folk music, as well as a piper.

Sandra Wood, a 76-year-old resident at Pine Villa, said: “It brings me and the other residents so much joy to hear great traditional Scottish music being played live in our home.

“I’m so glad that we are now getting regular musical visits, it makes it more than just your average care home!”

Mr Maclennan, who is a three-time champion of the National Association of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs Festival, also regularly features on BBC Radio Scotland’s ‘Take the Floor’ programme hosted by Scottish musician Gary Innes, and has also recorded his own album ‘Traditionally Inspired’.

He said: “It’s great to be able to entertain the residents. Due to the pandemic, some of them hardly got to see their families so I’m very grateful to be able to bring them that extra bit of joy.

“I was performing outdoors for Pine Villa towards the end of the summer and the residents at the home seemed to really enjoy it, so it is great that I’ll be there a bit more regularly.

“The entertainment industry has been shut for so long now so as a full-time musician it has been hard. I’m just very happy to be back playing again and bringing some music to people’s lives.”

Manager Denise Williams, said: “To have Matthew performing on a more regular basis is brilliant news. He’s won so many awards for a reason. He’s extremely talented and the residents absolutely love him and his music.

“Alongside Matthew, we now also have a regular piper who plays every month as well. The residents love when our musical guests visit.”

Mansfield specialises in small, friendly residential care homes, which have wellbeing coordinators to plan activities according to residents’ wishes.