Lighter Notes
Solo piano in healthcare settings
Lighter Notes brings solo piano performances to hospital wards, clinical spaces and public areas - calm, uplifting live music for patients, visitors and staff.
Drawing on 13 years of experience delivering live music in NHS hospitals, I perform jazz standards, easy listening, film themes and popular favourites - music people know and love. Using a purpose-built battery-powered digital piano on wheels, I can set up anywhere in a hospital in minutes, bringing high-quality piano sound to any ward, bay or waiting area without disruption to clinical routines.
A vital part of Lighter Notes is that the music isn't just played for the people I meet - it's chosen by them. Whether it's a nurse who mentioned a favourite song at a previous visit, or a patient asking for something in the moment, my repertoire is constantly shaped by the people I'm playing to. When someone hears the song they asked for, the joy, recognition and emotional lift are immediate - and those ripples spread through the whole ward, and beyond. My sample set lists are drawn entirely from real audience requests.
Research on the benefits of music in healthcare settings
Extract from the National Centre for Creative Health / Live Music Now paper:
Evaluation of the 2022-2023 participatory concert programme (from 75 returns from 71 settings) has shown clear improvements in mood and engagement for [dementia] residents:
- 100% of settings reported a positive mood response to the activity from the participants
- 87% reported the highest mood scores in the participants during the sessions, and 93% after the session, up from a score of 7% before the activity
- 98% reported that the residents engaged with the performance and the musicians, with a shift from 79% before to 85% during to 94% afterwards
- 1. Bringing the benefits of live music to care homes and hospitals - Alzheimer's Society [2024]
- 2. Live Music Now - Improving health and wellbeing for the whole care community - NCCH
- 3. Live music in hospital oncology settings: environmental, social, and individual outcomes - Bradt & Dileo [2021]
- 4. Bringing live music to adults and children across healthcare - Music in Hospitals & Care [2018]
- 5. A cure for the soul? The benefit of live music in the general hospital - O'Callaghan & McDermott [2007]
Top Feedback Videos Photos Sample set lists
Feedback from patients, visitors and staff
A selection of responses from real patients, visitors and NHS staff.
Dear Sir / Madam,
Had appointment today with medical retinal.
On leaving the hospital, I had to take a seat and listen to the wonderful sounds from Chris playing the piano.
I sat for over half an hour. So many people stopped to listen, big smiles all around.
Thank you for asking Chris to play such wonderful songs to patients visiting Manchester Eye Hospital.
Very uplifting on a gloomy day.
Yours faithfully, E. Brierley
P.S. Hope he's a regular.
How wonderful it was to have Chris on the ward yesterday. Our patients and staff thoroughly enjoyed his music session, and it was greatly appreciated by everyone. We are very much looking forward to welcoming him back again.
Your music gave me goosebumps! I heard you playing from my ward and had to come see you play!
It's just so nice and relaxing on a busy day, hearing you play.
You've brought a lot of happiness to people. Simply fabulous.
I heard some music and just had to find you. It's wonderful!
I'm heading home now but the music made the end of my shift so lovely.
I really love this music. It feels like Christmas.
Top Research Videos Photos Sample set lists
Videos
Top Research Feedback Photos Sample set lists
Photos
Top Research Feedback Videos Sample set lists
Sample set lists
My set lists are drawn entirely from real audience requests. A vital part of Lighter Notes is that the music isn't just played for the people I meet - it's chosen by them. When someone hears the song they asked for, the joy, recognition and emotional lift are immediate.
Swingin' Through the Years
Jazz Standards & Swing Classics
- Fly Me to the Moon
- The Way You Look Tonight
- Misty
- Moon River
- My Funny Valentine
- The Girl from Ipanema
- Cheek to Cheek
- As Time Goes By
- Stardust
- Don't Get Around Much Anymore
Songs Everyone Loves
Easy Listening & Popular Favourites
- Your Song (Elton John)
- Make You Feel My Love (Bob Dylan)
- Hey Jude (Lennon/McCartney)
- And So It Goes (Billy Joel)
- Can't Help Falling In Love (Elvis)
- Over the Rainbow
- How Deep Is Your Love (Bee Gees)
- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (Elton John)
- Time To Say Goodbye
- What a Wonderful World
Tunes for Little Dreamers
Children's & Family Favourites
- The Bare Necessities (The Jungle Book)
- Let It Go (Frozen)
- Beauty and the Beast
- Over the Rainbow (The Wizard of Oz)
- You've Got a Friend in Me (Toy Story)
- Can You Feel the Love Tonight (The Lion King)
- Under The Sea (The Little Mermaid)
- A Whole New World (Aladdin)
- Monsters Inc.
- Super Mario World