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“Banda Maior” (“Major Band”)

“Banda Maior” (“Major Band”)

Summary

Created in October 2010, the “Banda Maior” is a musical group composed exclusively of persons aged 55 years and over. The Band was created to provide senior citizens creative engagement in the area of musical expression, enable group experiences and intergenerational participation, and to sensitize the community at large to the role of seniors in social development. Currently, the “”Banda Maior”” includes 25 citizens, seven instrumentalists (two electric guitars, a classical guitar, folk guitar, a bass guitar, piano and drums) and eighteen singers, aged between 55 and 86 years. The “Banda Maior” performs with infectious energy the classics of the 60s, 70s and 80s, while simultaneously combatting stereotypes and prejudices about aging. The Band has already had dozens of appearances on TV and radio programs, as well as performances in several festivals and cultural centers of the country and the municipality. This project represents for the municipality an approximate annual cost of €12,000.00 (twelve thousand euros) for the payment to a music teacher and the cost of travel / transportation to the performances / shows.

Website: https://www.facebook.com/BandaMaior?fref=ts

Key facts

Main target group: Older people in general

Other target group(s): Social and religious institutions, schools, public and community at general.

Desired outcome for older people:
Build and maintain relationships

Other issues the Age-friendly practice aims to address:
  • Intergenerational activities

Other Issues: It is a project that is not limited to providing seniors a creative occupation, it gives them also the possibility to continue to contribute, to be useful and necessary to build a better country and that is friendly for all ages, providing this way a positive impact on the entire community.

Contact details

Name: Sérgio, Carla

Email address: carla.sergio@cm-odivelas.pt

Preferred language(s): Portuguese

Age-friendly practice in detail (click to expand):

Engaging the wider community

Project lead: Local authorities

Older people’s involvement: Older people were involved in the age-friendly practice at multiple or all stages

Details on older people’s involvement: In this project older people are involved in all phases. The original idea was theirs and all decisions are planned between the group and local municipality.

Moving forward

Has the impact of this age-friendly practice been analysed: Yes

Please share with us what you found in detail:
The positive feedback that we have received from the entire community, is that this project has become an example for the promotion of active ageing, and that values the experiences and skills that people accumulate over the life course.

Feedback:
Due to the commitment of its members, the project gained great dynamism and there is a very positive feedback from the community. Especially from 2012 the “Banda Maior” it was assumed as a project “ambassador” improving self-image and self-esteem of the elderly and a strategic element in changing the social representation of the elderly.

Expansion plans:
We do not plan to extend the project. This is a dynamic project that fits the context and circumstances.

Looking back

Reflections:
We would like to have more money available for the acquisition of equipment and to allow the realization of concerts / trips to more distant locations.

Challenges:
In this project is very present the maxim “”everyone is unique and valuable,”” so that the output of any member always leads to adaptations in the group.