Capture Cardiff: Harmonica brings hope to stroke survivors

A local man has developed a pioneering method of helping stroke survivors in their recovery process; by teaching them to play the harmonica.

Derek Donovan, from Creigiau, near Cardiff , visits a local stroke patient weekly, teaching him to play popular songs on the harmonica. He has achieved impressive results leading to a new and successful method in music therapy for stroke survivors.

Derek, aged 69, met Charles Cottrell three years ago when he taught a group of eight stroke patients at a social services resource centre, Cordhouse, in Fairwater, Cardiff. There, Derek formed a harmonica band of stroke patients called Cord Allstars. He taught them to play popular songs such as Amazing Grace and When the Saints go Marching in, which they performed to other stroke patients at Cardiff’s Royal Infirmary (CRISP).

Derek Donovan has discovered a new and successful way of helping stroke survivors

During this performance at CRISP, Charles took an instant interest in Derek’s harmonica. Louise, Charles’s wife, says, “Charles always had an interest in music, he used to be in a band years ago. He saw the harmonica, picked it up and started playing it. That was the last Derek saw of it”.

Since then, Derek has visited Charles, who suffered a stroke in April 2006, at his home in Cardiff and has formed a special bond with him. “I’ve made a friend of him and I still play the harmonica with him. I’m sure he enjoys it and has achieved so much considering how debilitating the stroke has been for him.”

Derek began his teaching career ten years ago after retiring from his job as a logistics manager. He taught an evening class to members of Cardiff Council’s Adult and Community Learning sector for five years. After that, he was approached by Judith Godfrey, a member of Cardiff Council’s Disability Advisory Resource Team (D.A.R.T), and she asked if he would like to teach the stroke patients at Cordhouse. Judith says, “I worked with Derek in adult education and changed job roles to D.A.R.T. There was funding opportunity to incorporate music into helping stroke patients and I thought of Derek because of his personality and talent. He’s the type of person that motivates people and is very creative and imaginative.”  

  Listen to Derek talk about teaching stroke survivors

Derek’s creativity is apparent through the easy-to-read song sheet he designed to make teaching easier and more effective. He uses a musical stave, cuts out all the bars, flats, crotches and places blue and red coloured notes on the stave; blue to blow into the harmonica and red to draw. He says, “The holes in the harmonica are numbered so I put the number of the hole inside the note on the sheet. If you look at the blue note and it’s number five, you blow into hole number five. If you take a blues harmonica, you can play When the Saints go Marching in on three holes so I tape up the rest with insulation tape. I only show three holes so either the left, right or middle; it becomes very easy.”

Derek has devised an easy-to-read song sheet to help teach stroke survivors

As well as bringing something different to the stroke patients’ day at Cordhouse, Derek found that playing the harmonica encouraged them to be more in control of their breathing, concentration and co-ordination. Judith Cobbett from the Stroke Information Service of the Stroke Association says, “It sounds as though Mr Donovan is helping people to achieve their potential through an enjoyable creative outlet, with additional incidental benefits – a method that achieves this is really valuable to people in recovery from stroke. It is always interesting to hear of innovative approaches to stroke rehabilitation, and this is certainly a new one for me.”

Derek’s classes have also been proven to have a positive effect on patients’ behaviour. Charles’s wife, Louise says, “Charles’s stroke was so acute that it’s left him completely paralysed on his right hand side. He can’t talk and suffers from dysphagia, which means he struggles to eat. It can make him very agitated and frustrated, but when he sees Derek, he’s like a different person. Playing the harmonica with him makes Charles so happy. He always liked music and used to play in a group before the stroke, I think Derek brings back happy memories for him.”

Derek's teaching also brings back happy memories for patients

Although medically proven that music therapy helps stroke patients in their recovery process, the harmonica is certainly a unique and special approach that brings pleasure to everyone involved. “I just want to bring joy into people’s lives just like the harmonica brings to me,” says Derek. One thing’s for sure, Derek certainly brings a great deal of joy into Charles’s life.

See Derek perform Summertime below:

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