Paul Harvey: Viral pianist with dementia helps Edinburgh charity secure £37,799 cash boost

The Paul & Nick Harvey Fund has provided charities in the Capital with a share of £500,000 after musician Paul Harvey, 80, performed on BBC Breakfast.

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Paul went viral last year after he was challenged by his son, Nick Harvey, to improvise a tune using the notes F, A, D and B.

The BBC Philharmonic orchestra later helped him record it as a single, titled Four Notes, to benefit both Alzheimer’s Society and Music for Dementia.

Paul Harvey went viral last year after he was challenged by his son, Nick Harvey, to improvise a tune using the notes F, A, D and B.

The Paul & Nick Harvey Fund was made possible by a donation from The Hunter Foundation to Music for Dementia, after philanthropists Sir Tom and Lady Marion Hunter saw Paul Harvey TV appearance on BBC Breakfast with his son Nick Harvey.

Nick said: “Dad and I are just so thrilled that Four Notes – Paul’s Tune has led to this. It’s truly extraordinary and we want to thank everyone involved in the fund from Sir Tom and Lady Marion Hunter to Music for Dementia and The Utley Foundation, plus the musicians who will be making and sharing music with people with dementia as a result.”

There are among some 30 projects across the UK providing musical services for people with dementia to benefit from a cash injection including Forget Me Notes Project, an Edinburgh-based charity that uses music to build community.

CEO at Forget Me Notes Paul Barfoot said: “The generous funding from the Paul & Nick Harvey Fund will enable us to continue to run our choir, re-start Music Memory sessions in care homes and community settings, and run a new series of lunchtime concerts.”

In just six weeks, over 170 organisations applied to the fund which was launched by the Music for Dementia campaign, backed by The Utley Foundation, in January this year.

Grants of between £5,000 and £50,000 have been awarded to a diverse range of projects from dementia choirs to music therapy services.

Campaign Director at Music for Dementia Grace Meadows said: “Musical services have been severely impacted in the last year, meaning many people living with dementia and their carers have lost those important connections and special moments that music, uniquely, provides.

"It couldn't be more timely to be distributing this fund just as we are beginning to see the green shoots of in-person services start to emerge.”

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