The STROKESTRA® Community Programme: Research Report

Executive Summary:This research project explored the effectiveness of a pioneering stroke rehabilitation programme called the STROKESTRA Community Programme (SCP). The SCP aimed to facilitate recovery in stroke survivors and to support their carers through orchestral music-making. Existing research and intervention studies indicate that music can be an effective therapeutic tool for stroke survivors; however, the SCP is a unique programme through its use of music group work with orchestral instruments. The SCP was delivered by members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) with assistance from volunteers, including University music students and community workers. The programme ran in “terms”, each comprising a series of music workshops culminating in a live public orchestral performance given by everyone involved in the programme (stroke survivors, carers, musicians and volunteers). All workshops and performances took place in community venues.The rationale for the research project was to provide an independentevaluation of the SCP for the RPO. There were three aims: (1) to identify the different strategies required to implement the SCP, including potential barriers; (2) to investigate people’s experiences of participating in the SCP; and (3) to explore how leaders, musicians and volunteers facilitated the programme. The overall objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of the SCP and to develop guidance for implementing and facilitating an arts-based rehabilitation programme in a community setting. The research adopted a multi-method approach using semi-structured interviews and observations, the key findings of which are presented in this report (for a full account of the research, see King et al., forthcoming).