A Musselburgh-based dementia singing group has hit a high note by recording a song.

Members of Let’s Sing worked with Luminate, Scotland’s creative ageing organisation, and award-winning singer/songwriter Boo Hewerdine, at Castlesound Studios, Pencaitland, to record I Am The Song.

Written by Boo, the track will be available for use by Luminate’s network of singing groups across Scotland from this week.

Included in the final recording were vocals from 24 members of Let’s Sing, guitar and vocals from Boo and award-winning singer Hannah Rarity, and percussion/drums by Iain Sandilands.

Let’s Sing, led by song leader, singer and composer Penny Stone, meets weekly and supports people living with dementia in the local community by learning and singing acapella harmony songs together.

Working with Penny and Stephen Deazley, who is Luminate’s community music consultant, the choir recorded I Am The Song in just two hours.

The track builds on the success of Travel These Ways – an earlier collection of songs created by Luminate during the pandemic for people living with dementia.

The collection included two songs by award-winning musician Karine Polwart and still continues to be used widely by Scotland’s Dementia Inclusive Singing Network today.

The Dementia Inclusive Singing Network includes singing groups and choirs based all over Scotland, as well as other community groups and care providers who recognise the benefits of singing, and the positive difference it can make to health and wellbeing.

Penny said: “The writing and sharing of this song has meant so much to our community of singers.

“Every time we sing it, at least one of us wells up with the emotion of it all – and not in a bad way!

“The song has connected with different singers in different ways and feels really special.

And the process of recording the song with Boo, Hannah and Iain was really special. “Many of our singers had never been in a recording studio before, so it felt like a new and unexpected adventure, and it sparked beautiful memories for those of our singers who have made music throughout their lives.”

Anne Gallacher, director of Luminate, added: “There’s a growing wealth of evidence of the benefits of singing, and in particular of singing in a group.

“I am delighted that Boo has agreed to write a song for the Dementia Inclusive Singing Network and I am sure that groups in the network will love singing it.

"We hope to commission more songs over the coming years, and to build up a bank of pieces for our members to sing.”

The final recorded versions of I Am The Song, including an accompaniment for groups to sing along with downloadable lyrics and sheet music, is now free to use and available on the Dementia Inclusive Singing Network’s website at sing ing.luminatescotland.org