The Science Behind Music that Heals the Brain The human brain is an amazing piece of machinery that controls, processes and stores everything we think, say or do. It runs every function in our body whether we are conscious of it or not. When part of our brain is...
Have you ever listened to music and began to doodle on a nearby piece of paper? Or started tapping your foot along to the beat of the music? Have you cranked up the music in your car to sing along with your favorite tune on the radio? These are all moments of self...
Last month was dedicated to Music Therapy with Persons with Alzheimer's. MARCH 2012 (National Music Therapy Month in Canada) will focus on Music Therapy with Brain Injury. Working with anyone who has suffered a neurological impairment is sensitive work. As music...
Nestled in a beautiful small town, a group of seniors dealing with Alzheimer's or dementia meet once a week for music therapy. I have the incredible honour of sharing music with them and learning more about their incredible lives. Singing familiar and favourite...
Research Nicholas R. Simmons-Stern, Andrew E. Budson, Brandon A. Ally. Music as a memory enhancer in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Neuropsychologia, 2010; 48 (10): 3164 Musical mnemonics have a long and diverse history of popular use. In addition, music...
Walking into a large community centre one Friday night, I was gripped with excitement. This was my first time participating in a community drum circle with close to 100 participants. When the drumming began I was astounded by the feeling of being tied together with so...
It was just before Christmas when Harry invited me to spend an evening with him and his family. When he suggested I come to facilitate a music-filled evening he included a very compelling reason - "It is the first time in 10 years that all my children will be home for...
Are we still having this conversation? Are we still having to fight to have the arts in school because the arts are thought of as fringe and not fundamental? I would have thought this discussion would have been over by 2012, so many years past enlightenment - but I...