“Music is soothing,” Community Connections case manager Nancy MacMillan said. “And they need that.”
This is from an article about music being used in therapy, for some disabled patients.
Music therapy is getting more and more popular, and for good reason: it can really reach us in ways indescribable! They say that Alzheimer’s patients can remember old songs they sang even when they can’t remember their spouse or children. Music can reach those who seem unreachable in other ways. In the case of the the article, the music is being played to developmentally disabled adults.
So did you guess which composer the therapist chose for the day?
Heh … I’m going to bet not many of you would have suggested Stravinsky, aside from seeing the video below so of course I gave you a huge clue. But there you have it. (And yes, he didn’t only compose Rite of Spring.)
I could believe Alzheimer patients responding well to the Pulcinella. I play a lever harp for Alzheimer patients once a month and it’s really fun to see how they react. I play a lot of familiar tunes which they love but they also respond well to music of different moods. It’s one of the more rewarding musical experiences I’ve had. When I start wheeling the harp down the hall to the unit, the staff always greets me with smiles. They say “Oh good, the harp is here! Things have been so wild today and the harp calms them down so much.” I’ve never tried the oboe with them but I bet it would go over well too especially if I played familiar tunes.
Oh I think the harp would be so great … wish I could play that, but of course I’m too darn lazy to learn anything new. Go figure!
Patty, you’re still super busy with your playing jobs and teaching, so laziness would not be the case at all for you. I have been finding more and more musicians like myself who take up a completely different instrument late in life. It’s amazing what perspectives and insights one can get.
I’d actually like to learn Baroque oboe. I realize that’s not a real change, but I just have a hankerin’ ….
Do it! 🙂