Songs We Carry
Music, Memory and Relationship
Songs We Carry is a small online group where participants bring music that holds meaning for them. Across six sessions over twelve weeks, we listen together and explore what the music carries: memory, identity, attachment, mood, protest, belonging, change.
Each session centres on two or three songs offered by members of the group. We listen carefully. We notice what shifts in the body. We speak about what becomes present. The emphasis is not on musical knowledge or taste. It is on how sound shapes experience and how experience is carried through sound.
The twelve-week structure allows space between meetings. A song may take on a different tone after it has been shared. A lyric may return during the week in an unexpected way. This group works with that unfolding rather than rushing it.
Why Music in This Way
Research in neuroscience and psychology shows that music activates networks linked to emotion and autobiographical memory. Listening together also shapes connection. When attention gathers around sound, something collective happens. Conversation afterwards can bring clarity to what was sensed but not yet named.
Music also carries social and cultural history. A song may reflect family background, political movements, adolescence, faith, migration, heartbreak, resistance. Exploring this in a group allows personal experience to sit within a wider context.
Songs We Carry approaches music as lived experience rather than performance.
What to Expect
- Shared listening to selected songs
- Brief context from the person who brings the song
- Guided noticing of bodily and emotional responses
- Structured small-group and whole-group reflection
- Time for integration and closing
Participants will have the opportunity to bring at least one song across the six sessions, and in most cases more than one.
Between meetings, a short reflective prompt will be available through The Awareness Lab for those who wish to stay with the inquiry.
What Is Expected
- Attend consistently across the twelve weeks
- Bring at least one song you are willing to share
- Take part in conversation at a level that feels appropriate
- Respect the confidentiality of the group
You decide what you want to share about your song and your experience.
Who This Is For
- Music has marked periods of your life and you are curious about why
- Certain songs still move you and you would like to explore that with others
- You value structured, steady group reflection
- You are interested in how memory, body, and relationship intersect
No musical expertise is required. Curiosity and willingness to listen are enough.
Payment and Practicalities
DATES
Sunday 10 & 24 May
Sunday 7 & 21 June
6.00pm – 8.00pm UK and Ireland time
GROUP SIZE
Maximum of 10 participants
LOCATION
Details sent on registration
PAYMENT
Full payment: £180 on registration
Two instalments: £90 on registration, £90 on 1 April
Three instalments: £60 on registration, £60 on 1 April, £60 on 1 May
FAQ
Who is the group for?
Adults of all backgrounds are welcome. The group is mixed audience, and no previous experience with reflective work or music study is needed.
What actually happens in the sessions?
Each session centres on shared listening. Two or three participants bring a song, and the group listens together. There is time for brief context from the person who chose the music, guided noticing of what arises, and structured group conversation. The focus is on what the music evokes and how that registers in the body and in relationship. The work centres on awareness and reflection rather than musical analysis or performance.
Do I need to send my song in advance?
Yes. Participants are asked to send a link to their chosen song at least 48 hours before the session so it can be prepared for shared listening over Zoom. Songs should ideally be no longer than 7 minutes to allow space for reflection and conversation.
How deep does the work go?
Songs We Carry offers depth in a steady and accessible way. The work is experiential and relational. The depth comes from careful listening, being witnessed, and staying with the inquiry across twelve weeks rather than from intensity or personal disclosure.
How is the group structured?
All sessions take place online via Zoom. They are not recorded, which supports privacy and presence. Attending all six sessions is encouraged so you can stay with the thread of the work.
What materials will I need?
You will need access to your chosen song and the ability to send a link in advance. You may also wish to have paper and simple colouring tools nearby. Some participants find it helpful to draw, mark, or jot down what they notice while listening, though this is entirely optional.
What support is offered between sessions?
The group is supported by The Awareness Lab, an online learning environment that holds prompts and ongoing connection between meetings. Participants have access to:
- Short reflective prompts
- Session reminders
- A space to ask questions as they arise
- Optional community interaction
Do I need to share personal material?
No. You choose your level of participation. You are welcome to speak about your song and what it means to you, and it is also fine to share in a more contained way.
How does payment work?
The fee is £180 for the full six sessions, payable in two instalments of £90, or three instalments of £60. If finances are a challenge right now, let me know and we will see what we can do.
Is this therapy?
Songs We Carry is a reflective group informed by embodied and relational principles. It is not a therapy group. You can take part whether or not you are currently in therapy.
Joining Songs We Carry
The fee is £180 for all six sessions. You can choose to pay in full, in two instalments of £90, or in three instalments of £60.
Your place is confirmed once your first payment is received.
If you have questions about payment before registering, you are welcome to get in touch.