A Joyful Start to 2026 — Inclusive Music, Connection, and Community

As we step into 2026, Sounds Joyful is starting the year with a renewed sense of purpose and an expanded reach. We are running 150% more sessions every week than this time last year, an increase that reflects not only growth but also the depth of need and appetite for inclusive, community-centred music-making experiences.

Our sessions are truly for everyone: people of any age, any ability, neurodiverse or neurotypical, with or without a health condition. This inclusivity is at the heart of our approach and sets us apart. Every week, we see the power of music to bring people fully into the present moment, attune us to one another, and create connection in its purest form.

The Science Behind the Joy

The benefits of music for wellbeing are well documented. Research shows that:

• Active participation in music—like singing, drumming, or playing instruments together—supports emotional and cognitive wellbeing, and strengthens social bonds (Creech et al., 2013).

• Inclusive music-making promotes meaningful engagement across abilities, fostering co-regulation, social cohesion, and authentic connection (Fancourt & Finn, 2019).

• Neurodiverse individuals benefit from structured group music activities, which can support attention, emotional regulation, and collaborative skills while providing a joyful outlet for creativity (Sharda et al., 2018).

At Sounds Joyful, we witness these benefits in real time: the shared rhythms and melodies as people make music together, the way it draws everyone into the present moment, and the gentle attunement that happens as people co-regulate and respond to one another. It’s not about performing or achieving, it’s about connection, authenticity, and being fully present with one another through music, in its purest and most powerful form.

January Highlights: Connection Beyond the Session

This month, our work stretches beyond weekly sessions. On Friday 30th January 2026, we will be exhibiting at the BANES Women in Leadership Network (WLN) Annual Summit: We Rise Together, held at UWE Business School, Frenchay (9.00am–3.30pm).

This is a space for keynote talks, panels, and workshops focused on leadership, belonging, and empowerment. Around 200 women leaders and their allies will come together to connect, collaborate, and inspire one another. We’re excited to share how inclusive, music-based wellbeing experiences can support leadership, community, and workplace connection.

Why We Do This

Behind every session is a belief that co-creating music together is for everyone. It’s about creating a space where people can engage at their own pace, attune to one another, and experience connection, co-regulation, and authenticity in the moment. It’s in the subtle exchanges—the way someone falls into rhythm with another, the shared focus on creating sound together, the quiet joy of being present in music, that the true power of inclusive music-making shines.

2026 is shaping up to be a year of growth, but more importantly, a year of deepening presence and connection. For us, every session, every workshop, and every shared note is about being together in music, attuning to one another, and creating a space where everyone can show up fully as themselves.

Research References

1. Creech, A., Hallam, S., Varvarigou, M., & Gaunt, H. (2013). Active music making: A route to enhanced subjective well-being among older people. Perspectives in Public Health, 133(1), 36–43. https://doi.org/10.1177/1757913912466950

2. Fancourt, D., & Finn, S. (2019). What is the evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being? A scoping review. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241515326

3. Sharda, M., Tuerk, C., Chowdhury, R., Jamey, K., Foster, N., Custo-Blanch, M., ... & Hyde, K. (2018). Music improves social communication and auditory-motor connectivity in children with autism. Translational Psychiatry, 8(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-018-0119-7