Joy of Sound’s short film ’Katie’s Song’ has been selected for screening at the 8th International Folk Music Film Festival in Kathmandu, in association with the Music Museum of Nepal. The theme of this years festival is ‘Music for Life, Music for Survival’ and ‘Katie’s Song’ tells a real-life story of Katie’s journey as a JOS volunteer struggling to cope with mental health challenges and Body Dysmorphic Disorder. It Ain't Necessarily So is a song written by Katie, inspired by her volunteering with JOS, recorded and edited by JOS volunteers. It highlights Katie's struggles with mental health, society’s perceptions of mental and physical disability and the healing power of music. To hear and see Katie's recorded version click here
Katie and William (founder of JOS) will attend the festival to present the film. Katie will speak about her experience as a female musician facing severe mental health challenges; she will also perform her song live at the Festival reception. Katie and William will deliver a 20 volume edition of The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians as a gift from JOS volunteers to the Music Museum of Nepal who are organisers of the Festival. William will also share his recent PhD research into the inclusive design of music instruments in relation to JOS’ unique approaches to music making that enables people of all ages and ability to actively participate in community music making, and to gain from the multiple health and wellbeing benefits that can arise through music making.
We are seeking to raise £2500 to cover the costs of this rare and exciting opportunity for Katie and William to showcase JOS’ work, and their individual talents and experience to an international gathering of local community, musicians, creative practitioners, museum curators and academics.
The outreach will share Katie’s personal experience of the power and benefit of music making as a inspirational tool and therapeutic medium. She will encourage others by example, to explore and develop their musicality toward personal and social development. William will showcase his JOS based research that uses case studies to demonstrate the effectiveness of JOS’ inclusive approaches to music making and the design of musical instruments for personal and social wellbeing - and as objects that offer rich opportunity for personal, social and cultural learning.
At a time when vast numbers of our global community are suffering from rapidly encroaching levels of mental health decline and subsequent physical illness, social, economic and health inequalities, it is essential that we share proven good health and resilience promoting practices that have been successfully developed by the experience of long serving participant led organisations such as JOS.
Katie has battled with severe mental health challenges to maintain her volunteering with JOS where she is a regular and popular member of the team. Her film and song that she personally wrote, focuses on her long struggle with depression, anxiety and body dysmorphia. The film highlights Katie's struggles with mental health, society’s perceptions of mental and physical disability and the healing power of music.
This opportunity to share her story and work is a brave and potent step towards Katie’s recovery and an acknowledgment of her as a vital and creative volunteer and gifted independent artist.
William founded the JOS organisation in 2000, he is a lifelong volunteer, social entrepreneur and energetic advocate for equitable inclusive society. His groundbreaking PhD developed out of 19 years of practice based experience and research into the facilitation of people of all ages and ability regardless of assumed sagacity, towards a more inclusive, creative and egalitarian society.
The £2500 we seek will cover the costs of Katie and Williams return flights and auxiliary travelling expenses, accommodation, food and baggage costs for encyclopaedias, instruments and equipment. All costs have been minimised as basic requirements only. Any additional sum raised will be used to purchase equipment and instruments for the JOS project.
Thank you for your contribution.