Yes, it's good to give the gift of music, but not only to the aged and not only at Christmas. The band I play with regularly play for dances for people with learning difficulties - what a rewarding time that is for us - and I don't mean financially. Of course, you need an understanding of what they are capable of - and a caller with infinite patience and a gift for being able to communicate with these special people. We are very lucky to work with Dick Stanger as caller when doing these dances. Many English Catters will know him as the ex-director of Chippenham Folk Festival, but Dick also used to work at a centre for people with learning difficulties and so can get them dancing and is able to adjust the dances to what they are able to do. Yes there are those who have severe learning difficulties, and often other disabilities, who are unable to dance or even communicate in any recognisable way. One of the most special moments of my playing over many years with the band was when a young woman with severe learning difficulties left her chair and came to stand about a foot in front of me whilst I was playing. She reached out her hand and rested it gently on the top right hand side of the melodeon whilst I continued to play, looked straight into my face and smiled. I'm sure she was able to feel the vibration of the music as well as hear it, and her nursing aide told me that it was the most response she had shown to anything for years.

I would also remind folk musicians to let blind people feel the instruments that are being played in breaks between music. That way they can get a better understanding of how the music is produced. Don't worry about them handling the instruments, those very sensitive hands are used to the lightest touch if they read Braille, and will take great care.

We are the fortunate ones when we work with and for these special kinds of people.

Polly