Last week, clients and the team at Verdant Lane came together in the garden for a very special afternoon: Healing Through Music, an event created to mark Recovery Month and celebrate the role that music can play in recovery, connection, and wellbeing.
The sun found its way into the garden as chairs were arranged in a circle among the vegetable beds, and the sound of guitars, drums and voices took over for the rest of the afternoon.
Performances, sing-alongs and a lyrics quiz
The afternoon opened with live performances and sing-alongs, with staff and clients picking up instruments, following along with printed lyric sheets, and joining in wherever they felt comfortable. Alongside the music, a “guess the lyrics” quiz kept the mood light – pausing familiar songs mid-line and inviting everyone to guess what came next before the answer was revealed.
Drumming circle
Led by Anthony, the drumming circle brought out the djembes for a session built around three well-loved tracks, including Queen’s We Will Rock You and Tina Turner’s Proud Mary. The steady, shared rhythm made it an easy, joyful way for everyone to take part, whatever their experience with instruments.
Finish the Lyrics
Anthony, Phillipe, Amnah and Mayra led a “finish the lyrics” game, drawing on tracks from artists including Oasis, Coldplay, Phil Collins, U2, Queen, Taylor Swift, will.i.am, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Michael Jackson and Adele – all chosen for their connection to themes of recovery, healing, hope and new beginnings. Songs were played from the laptop or sung live, with clients invited to call out or sing the next line.
Guided relaxation
Later in the afternoon, the pace slowed right down for a guided relaxation session with calming music, giving everyone a chance to sit back, breathe, and simply enjoy a quieter moment in the garden.
Building a Recovery Playlist
The final activity invited clients to help build a Recovery Playlist together, choosing songs that represent Hope, Strength, Calm, Happiness, Motivation, New Beginnings and Love. Our team printed out lyrics from a few chosen tracks so everyone could sing along, and clients were encouraged to suggest songs of their own to add to the list.
A garden full of music and connection
Events like this sit right at the heart of what Recovery Month is about – creating space for connection, joy and shared experience. Music has a unique way of bringing people together regardless of ability or background, and the Verdant Lane garden, buzzing with drumbeats, singing and laughter, was proof of exactly that.
A huge thank you to Lucy and the whole team for putting together such a warm and inclusive afternoon, and to everyone who picked up an instrument, sang along, or simply enjoyed the music.