The Splinters: Jeanette Doherty is happy to be back rehearsing.
Photo by
Rodney Braithwaite
Every so often, the sounds of brass instruments complete with a guitar, keyboard and some vocals can be heard reverberating from the Shepparton soundshell in Queen’s Gardens.
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For the younger crowd, it’s expected the melodies sound sweet yet unknown, but for the more distinguished listener, Shepparton music group The Splinters are feeding the soul.
Together the group of eight musicians travel the district playing free gigs at retirement and nursing homes, with the occasional function or fundraiser on the side.
Brass: Ray Brisbane bringing the tunes.
Photo by
Rodney Braithwaite
Group member Jeanette Doherty said the band’s only purpose was to bring “music therapy” to their elderly audiences.
“Music is so powerful, it doesn’t matter if someone is a tiny baby or 90 years old, it goes across all generations, all languages and all ethnicities. It’s a universal language,” she said.
The band started as a sub-group of Shepparton Brass and Wind, when a few members and friends splintered off to perform their own jams, hence the name.
The Splinters group founder Paul Watson said the idea came to him following his own musically inclined mother residing in a nursing home, and wanting to bring the residents some joy.
“You can judge how successful the performance was by if people are singing or humming at the end,” he said.
Melodies: Frank Watson and Carol Silvey on the pipes.
Photo by
Rodney Braithwaite
“It’s incredibly gratifying; some of these people are being wheeled in with little to no mobility and you’ll see a little finger or a knee start moving to the music.
“On one occasion, we were told there was a non-verbal man in the audience and by the end he was singing.”
Mr Watson said the band’s philosophy stood by playing music its audiences would know.
The set list includes tunes from the 1930s, 40s, 50s and 60s, with Four Leaf Clover and Lavender Blue being crowd favourites.
Before COVID-19 hit, The Splinters had a schedule of 42 gigs played within the one year — but due to restrictions the group was rarely able to meet.
Mr Watson said they’re looking forward to getting back into it and being able to rehearse once more.
“We don’t charge money, but if organisations want to give a donation we give it to hospice. In the first two years we gave over $2000,” Mr Watson said.
The only non-negotiable for this band’s rider, is a hot cuppa and some biscuits following the show.
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