SOULHUMSOULHUM
Activities Coordinators, Welcome to the SOULHUM information page
What kind of music do we play?
We are a world-music band that composes, arranges and performs mantra music.
Our music explores the universal themes of peace, joy and love.
Our songs are based on yoga mantras, which are in Sanskrit — the language of ancient India and the first yogic texts.
Click below to view a sample performance (recorded at a retirement residence in Ottawa, November 2023):
Why have us perform at your Retirement Residence?
For thousands of years, people of all backgrounds and cultures have turned to mantra and mantra music as a way of cultivating peace, happiness, harmony, health and healing.
Mantra music is especially beneficial for a senior population, as it's inherently calming yet energizing.
We've also found that mantra music, with its simple, repetitive format, is very accessible; folks quickly feel familiar with the songs, even without understanding a word of Sanskrit.
In addition to the benefits of mantra music, we bring our own special approach, making our concerts fun, engaging, stimulating, participatory, and educational.
We aim to reach our audience on all levels — body, mind and spirit.
We intentionally get folks to move their bodies — clapping, tapping their feet, and swaying. Some even get up to dance!
We also offer explanations, background information, and stories about our music to engage, stimulate and broaden the mind.
Ultimately, though, it's about getting people to feel good inside — alive and uplifted. Spiritual but not religious, our music is definitely food for the soul.
It certainly helps that both of us — Scot and Zofia — have lifelong experience and love for working with seniors in various capacities: as volunteers in Retirement Residences, Chair Yoga Teacher on Memory Care Units, and Occupational Therapist on a Geriatric Assessment Unit.
As we're constantly scanning the audience during our shows, we can say that we've observed a very positive response to our music, through residents' eye contact with us, smiles, body movements (swaying, bouncing, etc.), and comments.
Audience feedback
It is often the case that, after our concerts, residents come up to us with comments and questions, such as:
- “Your concert helped us to breathe more, to feel more alive!”
- “This should be offered in schools, seniors' residences, and everywhere!”
- “It makes me want to move and dance!”
- “It's so relaxing and makes you feel good!”
- “The harmonium and drums go so well together!”
- “When are you coming back?”
We've had residents make requests for specific songs during performances, which we have happily met. We've had residents ask when we're coming back, and whether we play at private functions. Some folks have even recorded our concert on their phones to share with family and friends. And some have asked to purchase our album!
Feedback from staff
We had SOULHUM perform at Lord Lansdowne Retirement Residence. They are a very talented, unique, special band. They offer a very different performance than we have had before — very informative, which we really appreciated! Our residents really enjoyed it. We'd love to have SOULHUM back at Lord Lansdowne to perform for our residents again!
Scientific evidence
We are delighted to contribute to music and arts programming at Seniors' Residences, which has been proven to:
- increase overall health and well-being among seniors,
- decrease doctors' visits,
- decrease prescription and over-the-counter medications,
- improve marks on depression assessments,
- and increase participation in social activities.
(Gene D. Cohen, MD, PhD, "The Creativity and Aging Study," National Endowments for the Arts and George Washington University, April 2006.)
Photo album
