Anyone can join the choir, but we encourage people to commit to the choir for a full year (Sep-May). An ongoing commitment to understanding and helping those with dementia and memory loss is a very important part of developing a caring community.

As a small organization we do not have the capacity to take responsibility for the well-being of choristers during rehearsals or other activities. For their own safety and comfort, choristers with memory loss are encouraged to register with a caregiver.

We welcome you to join us at any point in your musical journey. Our professional choral conductor will help you find your voice! This is a non-auditioned choir – no one is turned away. You can speak with one of our choristers who said the same thing when they first started. Everyone has a voice!

If you’d like to explore more of the commonly used musical terms you’ll hear in rehearsal, you can find more information and videos HERE

Most certainly!  Please feel free to attend a rehearsal and then decide if this is the place for you. 

If you are shy about attending a rehearsal, we would be happy to put you in touch with a person who is already singing in the choir. They can speak with you about their experience.

Please let us know in advance that you are planning to attend by emailing info@voicesinmotionchoirs.org

This allows us to prepare music and make sure we are ready to greet you and help you get settled.

Absolutely. We welcome new choristers throughout the session but we encourage you to join as early as possible since each rehearsal builds upon the last one as we practice songs that may not be familiar to you. 

Don’t be discouraged if you join mid-session and feel a bit confused or out of place.  Our music director will provide you with the tools, tips and encouragement to feel right at home over time. 

In general, our sessions run from September – December and January – May. Please see the events calendar for a full rehearsal schedule.

Voices in Motion Choirs are currently only offered in Victoria, BC, Canada. We have a Wednesday Choir that rehearses at Sacred Heart Parish Hall and a Friday Choir that rehearses at the UVic MultiFaith Centre.

See the events page for a full rehearsal schedule and calendar of events.

Fees for “Duets” (a caregiver and adult with memory loss) is $150/session. 

 Fees for all other choristers (excluding students who register for free as volunteers) is $100 per person/session.

This includes weekly rehearsals from September-December for the Fall Session and January-May for the Spring session as well as bonus Sunday rehearsals 2-3 times per session, concerts, printed music, and binders.

We work hard to maintain  these low registration rates to increase accessibility. Our choir is funded thanks to government grants, generous donors, and sponsors who cover the majority of our costs.

Check out our events page to see the full rehearsal schedule and calendar of events.

We have two choirs, one that rehearses on Wednesday afternoons at the Sacred Heart Parish Hall (2:15pm-3:45) and another that rehearses on Friday mornings at UVic Multifaith Centre (10:30am-12:00pm).

There are two sessions per season, Sep-Dec and Jan-May. You are welcome to drop in at any rehearsal but please let us know by emailing info@voicesinmotionchoirs.org so that we can be sure to have extra music on hand for you. 

The Society is not currently involved in any research projects and now operates primarily as a community choir.

Below is text directly from the Public Health Agency of Canada that overall encourages patience and kindness.

Organization: Health Canada

Published: 2022-07-26

 

Being aware of how you talk, listen and behave will help you to have positive interactions with someone living with dementia.

Things to know

• Not everyone experiences the same dementia symptoms or behaviours.
• Try different communication methods. Some may work well for one person but not another; some may work well one day but not the next.
• Some people may have challenges with being understood or may have difficulty understanding things they hear or read.

Start with a positive interaction

• Place yourself in front of the person, be at the same level, make eye contact, and stay still to ensure they can focus on you.
• Reduce distractions. Bring the person to a quieter place if possible. It can be reassuring and help them understand you better.
• Stay calm and be patient.
• Avoid body language that makes you seem annoyed, like sighing or crossing your arms. People living with dementia may be sensitive to nonverbal cues.
• Pay attention to behaviour and body language. This can show you a lot about how they are feeling.
• Respect their personal space.

Speak with care

• Speak slowly and clearly and use a friendly tone.
• Use short and simple sentences.
• Avoid open-ended questions and too many options. Focus on one response at a time.
• Avoid using childish or patronizing language.
• Avoid telling them they’re wrong or that you just told them something, as this may confuse them. Instead, respond calmly and offer encouragement – sometimes all you need to do is listen and reassure them.
• Try to communicate in different ways if they seem confused. You can:
  • use hand gestures, like pointing
  • offer to show them what you mean
  • write out clear directions with large print and photos if possible
• If someone is having difficulty finding the right word and appears to want help, you can suggest the word or ask them to describe or point to it.

Listen attentively

• Give them time to respond and express themselves.
• Offer non-verbal encouragement, like making eye contact and nodding.
• Validate what they have said to let them know you are listening. Use phrases like, “Yes, this does seem like a long wait.”
• Try not to interrupt when they are speaking, even if you think you know what they want to say.