RIOPY collaborates with the Mental Health Foundation
RIOPY joins forces with the Mental Health Foundation to promote mental well-being through music
Last updated 11th May 2023
The Mental Health Foundation has enlisted the talents of renowned pianist-composer RIOPY to create 'Meditation 111' for Mental Health Awareness Week. This composition aims to provide solace and alleviate anxiety, offering a soothing balm for those struggling with their mental well-being.
Self-taught pianist, RIOPY, discovered the piano during his tumultuous and abusive childhood. Music became his refuge, an escape from the oppressive environment of a French cult. Secret sessions on a forgotten piano instilled in him a glimmer of hope until he left at the age of 18. Settling in the UK, RIOPY weathered substance abuse and homelessness before eventually earning a scholarship to study music at university. Fate continued to smile upon him when Coldplay's Chris Martin gifted him a piano, enabling RIOPY to embrace his troubled past and turn it into a source of solace and inspiration for millions across the globe.
Mental Health Awareness Week, serves as a platform to open conversations about mental health, challenge societal stigmas, and prioritise the well-being of individuals. This year, the focus is on anxiety.
Recognising the transformative power of music, the Mental Health Foundation approached RIOPY to compose a new work that would assist individuals in confronting their anxiety. The campaign aims to encourage people to engage in music-making and creative expression, both of which are renowned for their positive impact on mental health.
Meditation 111 seeks to induce a meditative state in the performer. With just three fingers, the entire piece can be learned in an hour, making it accessible to individuals with no previous musical training. The title, '111,' serves as a reminder of the NHS 111 helpline, offering urgent mental health support to residents in the UK.
During Mental Health Awareness Week, RIOPY and the Mental Health Foundation invite audiences to participate via social media, either from the comfort of their homes or at public pianos in various locations such as schools, churches, malls, and train stations. Participants are encouraged to learn the piece by the end of the week, with the aid of tutorial videos, lessons, and tips directly from RIOPY himself. Furthermore, RIOPY invites participants to reinterpret and improvise over the composition, sharing their unique creations on social media using the hashtags #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek and #ToHelpMyAnxiety, while tagging @riopymusic and @mentalhealthfoundation.
The captivating music video for Meditation 111, along with downloadable sheet music and video tutorials to assist those who prefer to learn by ear, has been released on RIOPY's website today. Additional tips and resources will be shared on RIOPY and the Foundation's social media channels throughout Mental Health Awareness Week.
Expressing his gratitude for the commission, RIOPY shares, "It is an honour to partner with the Mental Health Foundation for Mental Health Awareness Week this year. As someone who has struggled with poor mental health for most of my life, music has been a great source of solace and calm. It is not an exaggeration to say that the piano saved my life. I hope that, by sharing this piece with the world, I can bring the restorative power of music to others who are also suffering."