The Magic Of Familiar Music

It's an awakening; it's a moment in time; it's a glimpse inside, finding the spirit that still resides there. It's a project; it's a connection between generations; it's eye-opening. Given the fact that approximately 5.2 million individuals live with Alzheimer's, and that doesn't even include the family members of someone who has this form of dementia, it's nothing short of a miracle.

What I am highlighting came about from a project of the ALIVE INSIDE FOUNDATION, meant to bring generations together, both elders and youth. Music was the conduit, but not just any music. It was music that had been previously enjoyed by the elders, some might even think about their favorite music. It involved finding out what music they loved. That's where the youth came in. They could search for the music online and put it on an MP3 player, which the elder could then listen to.



The youth part of the program did involve some learning about elders, the music of their generation, the effect of dementia and memory loss on the elders and their families. But it also involved the miracle of connection, the moment of recognition, the awakening of joy and spirit. There are stories now around about the connections made, even as the original project continues forward.

Terri reported, "My sister Delia was diagnosed seven years ago with early onset Alzheimer's....I was afraid to believe that playing familiar songs could actually work, but, I downloaded two songs I knew she loved and walked into her hospital room....[G]ently I put on the headphones and turned on Diana Ross and the Supremes' "I Hear A Symphony", My sister sat up, started to sing along, even doing all the Supremes' hand motions! The nurses started peeking their heads into the room to see what was going on. When the song ended, Delia turned to Jeff, her husband, gave him a little shove on the arm, and told him what a funny guy he was." This experience provided a glimpse to the woman inside for the family who was with her.

Sandy Horowitz, who is an elder abuse attorney, described his experience with his dad at the end of his life, "The last year he was really out of it and music was so powerful for him. My sister can sing well and play, and she'd bring it in and we'd play "Fiddler On The Roof" and Sinatra and the music of his youth and happy times with my mom and it moved him so much, It was the most animated he was; he'd hum with my wife, who sings opera, she has a really good voice, and it was beautiful." More wonderful memories and a connection among loved ones.

Finally, there's Susan Jakowenko LaBonte, who recounted, "Music was so important to my Mom on many levels....One of the fondest memories I have is when Mom's former recreation therapist Martha, came to visit her while she was on hospice. Martha brought along her guitar and played for my Mom and some of the other residents of the nursing home. Martha was sharing a story about the two Marys who would patiently wait for their daughters to pick them up at the end of the day. They would end the day with sing along Sound of Music. Out of nowhere my Mom who had been pretty much out of it began to sing Edelweiss. Talk about the power of music!"

Elder drummers in a program with youth at McBride High School.

There is this connection with music that many of us have. It doesn't fade and can cut through the memory loss that occurs in various types of dementia. And through that fog of memory loss, familiar music can bridge a gap and give a glimpse of a spirit that still resides within.

A woman shares a memory of her mother and music.

Thanks for information from this article on Alive Inside Foundation: http://www.aliveinside.org/outreach; personal testimonies from this page on Alive Inside: http://www.aliveinside.us/?__hstc=94828227.923901248046d5bfb9951fd97e082aca.1472837070683.1472837070683.1472837070683.1&__hssc=94828227.5.1472837070683&__hsfp=4162655610#aliveinsidestories; and the above link.