Just The Tonic with Katie Derham
25 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 1 ratingMusic’s pretty powerful stuff. You don’t need me to tell you how much it can help us escape, or relax, comfort or energise. It’s been a complete lifeline for many of us over the past 18 months, that’s for sure. But music – and all the arts – does so much more than that. And in this new podcast series I want to shine a light on the extraordinary work that musicians do in all parts of our community to make people’s lives better. I’m Katie Derham, and I believe it’s Just The Tonic we need … Get bonus content on Patreon
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Episodes
Just The Tonic - Celebrating World Singing Day
October 14, 2022 10:57 - 16 minutes - 271 MBIn a special edition of Just The Tonic, Katie celebrates World Singing Day 2022 which takes place on Saturday 15 October. We hear how singing was a superpower for opera singer extraordinaire Nicky Spence as it helped him get through hard times when he was young. Soprano and National Treasure Lesley Garrett tells Katie about the health benefits singing brings to people with Alzheimers and she even gives us a singing lesson! Don't think you can sing? Well, think again. The People's Orchest...
Just The Tonic - Music is for Celebrations
August 25, 2022 08:33 - 35 minutes - 359 MBIn this episode, Katie chats to Kit de Waal about her fabulous new memoir, Without Warning and Only Sometimes. It's an honest and funny account of her childhood, growing up in Birmingham with her four brothers and sisters, her Irish mother who brought her children up as Jehovah's Witnesses, and her father from St Kitts in the Caribbean. Kit didn't start writing until she was in her 50s and has some excellent tips for getting started. Laurie Stanton was a boy soprano in his hometown of Po...
Just The Tonic - The Taste of the Opera
August 11, 2022 05:00 - 34 minutes - 349 MBKatie meets singer extraordinaire Nicky Spence whose had an eventful year so far, full of personal ups and downs. His career is going from strength to strength – he's sung with all the major opera companies – but, he tells Katie, he'd give it all up to appear on … tune in to find out! AbracadOpera!, a new show for Sky Kids, is all about introducing young people to the opera for the first time. How did it go down with primary school pupils from Croydon whose tastes in music are a million ...
The Power of Poetry with Ian McMillan
July 28, 2022 07:54 - 33 minutes - 366 MBWe're all about the word this week on Just The Tonic. Katie meets the Bard of Barnsley football club and presenter of BBC Radio Three's The Verb, poet Ian McMillan. He's on a mission to get everyone in the world writing - then he'll have a day off! We hear from young poets at Raddlebarn Primary School in Selly Oak whose poems feature in the Birmingham Children's Poetry Festival. Head of Education at Birmingham Cathedral tells us about the festival and we hear from Birmingham's Poet Laureate...
Help Musicians with Lesley Garrett
July 14, 2022 08:31 - 35 minutes - 395 MBSoprano extraordinaire and National Treasure Lesley Garrett has had an inspirational career in music. Support from the charity Help Musicians got her back on her feet after she suffered a serious illness in her twenties. She chats to Katie Derham about her work as a Help Musicians' Ambassador and pulls no punches in her view of the lack of government support for the arts. Like Soweto Kinch and Xhosa Cole, Alicia Hillman is continuing in the tradition of great Birmingham saxophonists. She t...
The Positive Power of Music in Hospitals and Care with Sir Richard Stilgoe
June 30, 2022 09:38 - 24 minutes - 8.5 MBKatie is joined by star of stage and screen Sir Richard Stilgoe to chat about how live music can make all the difference to people in hospital and care homes. Richard's Orpheus Centre uses the performing arts to empower young adults with disabilities. He tells Katie how rapping helped one young man get an important message across to his dad. Music in Hospitals and Care improves health and wellbeing through the healing power of live music. Samantha Philp, Activities Co-ordinator, at the Ede...
Positive Power of the Arts with Carlos Acosta
June 16, 2022 10:27 - 32 minutes - 536 MBKatie's back with a new series of Just The Tonic, the podcast that shines a light on the positive power of the arts. In series one, we looked at how music can help mental and physical well-being and in this series, we'll explore the benefits of getting involved in other arts forms too. For this episode, Katie's stepping back into the fabulous world of dance - she was in the Strictly final with Anton du Beke! Last year, Eastenders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis was the first deaf contestan...
Positive Power of the Arts with Carlos Acosta
June 16, 2022 10:27 - 32 minutes - 536 MBKatie's back with a new series of Just The Tonic, the podcast that shines a light on the positive power of the arts. In series one, we looked at how music can help mental and physical well-being and in this series, we'll explore the benefits of getting involved in other arts forms too. For this episode, Katie's stepping back into the fabulous world of dance - she was in the Strictly final with Anton du Beke! Last year, Eastenders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis was the first deaf contestan...
Rehabilitation with Roger Graef
January 13, 2022 07:00 - 33 minutes - 555 MBIn the final episode of the current series, Katie Derham finds out how music can help people in the prison system get their lives back on track. Katie chats to the renowned documentary producer, theatre director, and criminologist Roger Graef. Roger produced the groundbreaking and multi-award-winning Feltham Sings documentary filmed in Feltham Young Offenders Institution. Inmates and staff offered a glimpse into their lives but instead of simply telling their stories, they were given the op...
Music Builds Communities with Emily Watson
December 20, 2021 09:14 - 34 minutes - 563 MBIt's a Christmas edition of Just The Tonic with Katie Derham! Actor Emily Watson chats to Katie about her support for The Citizens of the World Choir. Emily, Oscar-nominated for her role as virtuoso cellist Jacqueline de Pré, is their patron. They provide a lifeline for refugees and migrants arriving alone in the UK, helping them integrate through the power of music. Musical Director Becky Dell tells Katie about the growth of the choir - from its roots in the Calais Jungle to singing with ...
Inspirational Music Educators with Nicola Benedetti
December 09, 2021 06:00 - 33 minutes - 555 MBKatie Derham explores how music education for children can be Just The Tonic. She finds out from Nicola Benedetti how music-making can help young people learn all sorts of life skills. Nicola has long been a champion of making music lessons widely available and, through her Benedetti Foundation, provided a lifeline for young musicians during the pandemic. The enormous benefits of giving children a good music education are well-recognised. Neavan Lobban, twenty-two-year-old principal conduc...
Inspirational Music Educators with Nicola Benedetti
December 09, 2021 06:00 - 33 minutes - 555 MBKatie Derham explores how music education for children can be Just The Tonic. She finds out from Nicola Benedetti how music-making can help young people learn all sorts of life skills. Nicola has long been a champion of making music lessons widely available and, through her Benedetti Foundation, provided a lifeline for young musicians during the pandemic. The enormous benefits of giving children a good music education are well-recognised. Neavan Lobban, twenty-two-year-old principal conduc...
Just The Tonic - A Level Playing Field?
November 25, 2021 06:00 - 30 minutes - 496 MBThe People's Orchestra open their doors to anyone in the West Midlands who wants play in their orchestras or sing in their show choirs. Being inclusive is part of their DNA. There are around 11 million people with a disability in the UK - that's over a fifth of the population - but they are hugely under-represented in the music industry and in music education. So, are we ignoring many talented musicians who don't fit the standard mould? Disabled musicians face challenges like findin...
Just The Tonic - a level playing field?
November 25, 2021 06:00 - 30 minutes - 496 MBThe People's Orchestra open their doors to anyone in the West Midlands who wants play in their orchestras or sing in their show choirs. Being inclusive is part of their DNA. There are around 11 million people with a disability in the UK - that's over a fifth of the population - but they are hugely under-represented in the music industry and in music education. So, are we ignoring many talented musicians who don't fit the standard mould? Disabled musicians face challenges like findin...
A Level Playing Field? with Charles Hazlewood
November 25, 2021 06:00 - 30 minutes - 496 MBThe People's Orchestra open their doors to anyone in the West Midlands who wants play in their orchestras or sing in their show choirs. Being inclusive is part of their DNA. There are around 11 million people with a disability in the UK - that's over a fifth of the population - but they are hugely under-represented in the music industry and in music education. So, are we ignoring many talented musicians who don't fit the standard mould? Disabled musicians face challenges like findin...
Music For Confidence with Sir James MacMillan
November 11, 2021 06:00 - 31 minutes - 522 MBIn this episode, Katie Derham finds out how being involved in making music can give people the confidence they need to have a better and brighter future. We've heard from players in The People's Orchestra and from choir members in one of their many show choirs in previous episodes, but the team behind the inspirational community orchestra in the West Midlands don't only create opportunities for people who want to play an instrument or sing. They create employment opportunities for non-musi...
Just The Tonic - Music For Confidence
November 11, 2021 06:00 - 31 minutes - 522 MBIn this episode, Katie Derham finds out how being involved in making music can give people the confidence they need to have a better and brighter future. We've heard from players in The People's Orchestra and from choir members in one of their many show choirs in previous episodes, but the team behind the inspirational community orchestra in the West Midlands don't only create opportunities for people who want to play an instrument or sing. They create employment opportunities for non-musi...
Music is for Everyone with Xhosa Cole & Chi-Chi Nwanoku
October 28, 2021 05:00 - 29 minutes - 493 MBIn Just The Tonic so far, we've explored how being involved in an orchestra or a choir does wonders for your mental and physical health. Results from research studies conducted by universities all over the world highlight the positive effects of being involved in music. It's clear that music-making benefits everyone. But not everyone has access to the same opportunities, and that's been particularly true of classical music. It has not been a level playing field, particularly for people fro...
Just The Tonic - Music is for Everyone
October 28, 2021 05:00 - 29 minutes - 493 MBIn Just The Tonic so far, we've explored how being involved in an orchestra or a choir does wonders for your mental and physical health. Results from research studies conducted by universities all over the world highlight the positive effects of being involved in music. It's clear that music-making benefits everyone. But not everyone has access to the same opportunities, and that's been particularly true of classical music. It has not been a level playing field, particularly for people fro...
The Power of Song with Sir Mark Elder
October 14, 2021 05:00 - 29 minutes - 479 MBWe're all about the power of song! Countless studies show that singing in choirs can help beat the blues, boost your social life, reduce your stress levels and help you exercise - and, according to the choir members we hear from in this episode, it's true! Singers in The People's Show Choir Halesowen and the Hallé Orchestra's Ancoats Community Choir talk about the life-changing benefits they get from singing together - and, according to Ula Weber, Halesowen Show Choir Leader, anyone can sin...
Just The Tonic and the Power of Song
October 14, 2021 05:00 - 29 minutes - 479 MBWe're all about the power of song! Countless studies show that singing in choirs can help beat the blues, boost your social life, reduce your stress levels and help you exercise - and, according to the choir members we hear from in this episode, it's true! Singers in The People's Show Choir Halesowen and the Hallé Orchestra's Ancoats Community Choir talk about the life-changing benefits they get from singing together - and, according to Ula Weber, Halesowen Show Choir Leader, anyone can sin...
The Power of Song with Sir Mark Elder
October 14, 2021 05:00 - 29 minutes - 479 MBWe're all about the power of song! Countless studies show that singing in choirs can help beat the blues, boost your social life, reduce your stress levels and help you exercise - and, according to the choir members we hear from in this episode, it's true! Singers in The People's Show Choir Halesowen and the Hallé Orchestra's Ancoats Community Choir talk about the life-changing benefits they get from singing together - and, according to Ula Weber, Halesowen Show Choir Leader, anyone can sin...
The People's Orchestra with John Altman & Xhosa Cole
September 29, 2021 21:14 - 34 minutes - 47.5 MBEpisode One is all about the fantastic People's Orchestra and the work they do in the West Midlands. They've worked with young jazz phenomenon Xhosa Cole and legendary composer John Altman, who worked on the music for the new James Bond film, No Time To Die, and has composed especially for them. We'll hear from players from The People's Orchestra whose lives have been transformed by playing music. You never know, maybe we'll inspire you join a choir or to get that instrument out of the ...
Just The Tonic with Katie Derham
September 28, 2021 13:39 - 1 minute - 2.58 MBTrailer: Music’s pretty powerful stuff. You don’t need me to tell you how much it can help us escape, or relax, comfort or energise. It’s been a complete lifeline for many of us over the past 18 months, that’s for sure. But music – and all the arts – does so much more than that. And in this new podcast series I want to shine a light on the extraordinary work that musicians do in all parts of our community to make people’s lives better. I’m Katie Derham, and I believe it’s Just The Tonic we ne...
Just The Tonic with Katie Derham
September 28, 2021 13:39 - 1 minute - 2.58 MBTrailer: Music’s pretty powerful stuff. You don’t need me to tell you how much it can help us escape, or relax, comfort or energise. It’s been a complete lifeline for many of us over the past 18 months, that’s for sure. But music – and all the arts – does so much more than that. And in this new podcast series I want to shine a light on the extraordinary work that musicians do in all parts of our community to make people’s lives better. I’m Katie Derham, and I believe it’s Just The Tonic we ne...