IT’S the language that connects us all, a universal means of communication and something that Phil Hallett, chief executive of Walkford-based music charity Coda, is absolutely – obsessively – passionate about.

He’s not alone in that by any means, but he has more experience that many of music’s power to connect with people when all else has failed, which is why it hurts him so much to see music being squeezed out of schools and social care budgets.

“There are all sorts of politics in this of course, but the bottom line is that we’re missing a trick here because music is a bridge to so many other areas,” he says.

“I’ve seen some amazing things sitting in on music sessions. In care homes we see people that have all but closed down respond to pieces of music they hear – suddenly they know all the words and will share stories from their lives. It can leave their families in tears because they get a glimpse of their loved ones as they used to be. It’s completely transformative in that moment.

“We do a lot of work with special schools and our workshop leaders are very good at spotting special moments. For a young person with profound difficulties it could be something as simple as accepting an instrument to hold, or making eye contact over an instrument – these moments can be enormously significant.

“Even in regular schools, there’s so much emphasis on core subjects that music and other creative subjects are pushed out and it’s incredibly short-sighted because in so many ways music actually connects those subjects.”

At its base on a converted Victorian dairy farm and out in the community Coda works with more than 800 local people every week – some 500 come to the charity for tuition with weekly group sessions costing as little as £5.

“Tuition is much more difficult to access in schools, but we’re seeing a rise not only in the number of young people coming along to learn an instrument – something that previously they would have done at school – but also in adult beginners who want to connect with other people and keep their brains active.”

Another 300-400 people each week attend music activities all over the New Forest and East Dorset, from schools groups to projects like the Coda Fiddle Orchestra in Boscombe.

“That has been running for several years now and we get about 50 kids a week from that very diverse community learning how to play classical violin and perform in an orchestra, many of them would never otherwise have that opportunity.

“Most of what we do is about participating and getting involved and we want everyone to be the best they can be. That might be anything from just turning up to passing a few exams and playing with other people, but at the other end of the scale we’re also able to recognise and nurture excellence where we find it.

“We’ve supported several students through to Grade Eight and Diploma level and one young person got a bursary to go to the Yehudi Menuhin School, which is an incredible achievement.”

Established in 1996 to provide inclusive music making programmes to all ages within the community Coda operates with just three full-time management staff and about 25 local musicians who deliver music tuition, therapy sessions and workshops tailored to meet demand. The income from tuition means the charity is largely self-funding and it works with outside organisations to deliver targeted outreach projects, but with budgets under ever-increasing pressure it is having to rethink some of what it does.

“At the heart of what we do is making sure Coda is viable as a business,” says Phil. “That means we are better able to withstand changes in other funding.

“We used to work with Bournemouth Council to run music therapy sessions in 40 or 50 care homes but with funding being withdrawn from that we’re coming at it from another way. With some training in taking workshops we’re able to send groups of amateur musicians into some of the homes to perform, which is great for the players as well as the residents.”

Just a few years ago music therapy and music as therapy were considered alternative solutions, outside of the mainstream. That’s no longer the case, according to Phil.

“Over the last five years it has become much more accepted as people are understanding more and more that music has the power to make us feel better, to change our mood and bring us closer together.

“In a care home for instance it means that not only are the residents more engaged, it can improve the atmosphere of the whole place as the carers and staff see the residents in a different light.

“Music leaves the place buzzing.”

:: Coda has secured support from Arts Council England to support its fundraising strategy, Coda In the Community, and is keen to forge new relationships with individuals and businesses with Arts Council match funding doubling any donations made to the charity. To find out how you can help visit coda.org.uk or call 01425 276161.