Music has positive effects on healthy people, too! I offer wellness programs through music (e.g., Choir, Tone Chime Group, Drumming Group). Here is an article that summarizes the benefits of singing:
Did you know Albert Einstein played music? He played the violin and piano. I am not saying that playing music makes everyone become like Einstein. But music appeared to be an important part of his life and intuition according to the following quotes and article (link).
“If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.” (The Foundation for Music Literacy, n.d. p.9)
“It occurred to me by intuition, and music was the driving force behind that intuition. My discovery was the result of musical perception.” (When asked about his theory of relativity) – (The Foundation for Music Literacy, n.d. p.9)
“He often told me that one of the most important things in his life was music. Whenever he felt he had come to the end of the road or into a difficult situation in his work, he would take refuge in music and that would usually resolve all his difficulties.” (quoted in interview with Bernard Mayor, in Whitrow, Einstein, p.21 as cited in The Foundation for Music Literacy, n.d. p.9).
Here is an interesting article about Einstein, music, creative thinking, and physics in “Psychology Today”. I think you’ll enjoy it.
Reference:
The Foundation for Music Literacy. (n.d.). How music can dramatically effect your child’s development and life time success: A summary of current scientific literature concerning music and the mind. Retrieved Aug. 16, 2013, from http://www.sonlight.com/uploads/children-and-music-research.pdf
The following video (Music Therapy with Dementia) was created by the Canadian Music Therapy Trust Fund.
Many people with dementia come to life when you provide music that is appropriate for them. This video shares beautiful moments occurred during a music therapy session.
Are you inspired by Henry and ready to use music for your loved ones? Here are some tips from a board-certified music therapist:
Personalizing the musical selection for your loved one is very important. Look through your loved one’s musical collections (e.g. records/cassette tapes/CDs :)). People with Alzheimer’s disease tend to respond well to the music from their young adulthood and teenage years. They may also respond to the music from their childhood. If your loved one has/had strong faith, spiritual songs usually continue to be meaningful for them. Try to play different songs from your loved one’s collections and see how she/he responds.
Are you using headphones like Henry or an iPod docking speaker? I believe Henry lives in a nursing home, and headphones seem to work well for him (at least while he is sitting in his wheelchair). Using headphones definitely allows people to listen to their individualized music in shared spaces. But if your loved one and others like the same types of music or if you want to be part of the “musical awakening”, it’s good to listen to the music together. So, play the music on an iPod docking speaker! There are so many different kinds of iPod speakers, so you can pick one depending on your preference and budget. Sharing music and reminiscing together definitely facilitate interaction between you and your loved one.
Back to headphones… If you want to use headphones for your loved one who is confused, there are a few things that we need to consider. First, please make sure the volume is appropriate. You may also want to “lock” her/his iPod/MP3 player, so that your loved one does not accidentally turn the volume too high or too low. Listening to music at a high intensity level can cause ear damage and may trigger agitation. Also, let’s make sure that your loved one (who is confused) does not try to put an iPod in her/his mouth. I have never seen anyone doing this, but I have seen a patient who tried to put an egg shaker in his mouth (yes, it does look like a colored egg…).
Additionally, wearing headphones for a long period of time can be uncomfortable for many people. We especially need to pay close attention to those who cannot consciously remove their headphones on their own when they become uncomfortable. I think an iPod docking speaker is more appropriate for them. Also, there are interesting things called “Speaker Pillow” or “Pillow Speaker” on the market. I have never used any of these, so please let me know if you have used one!
My next blog is going to be about “How to Use Music in a Practical Way for People with Dementia”!
Dr. Oliver Sacks is a neurologist, bestselling author, and professor of neurology and psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center. Dr. Sacks talks about the effects of music therapy in stroke patients:
This clip is from the documentary “Alive Inside”. Henry seems depressed and does not respond to anything but to his favorite music. I see this type of response almost everyday in my music therapy practice. Enjoy!
Dr. Tomaino, music therapist, talks about the benefits of music:
This link includes a meta-analysis of the effects of music-based movement therapy in people with Parkinson’s disease. Music-based interventions have tremendous impacts on these individuals. Happy reading!
Musical Journey 