• Home
  • About
    • History
    • Mission & Vision
    • Creative Arts Therapy Week
    • Therapists & Staff
    • Board of Directors & Advisory Council
    • Press
    • Videos
    • Events
  • Programs & Services
    • Individual and Family Therapy
      • Art Therapy
      • Dance / Movement Therapy
      • Drama Therapy
      • Music Therapy
    • Groups
    • Community Programs
    • Musical Bridges to Memory
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Training
    • Internships
    • Professional Development
    • Webinars
    • Supervision and Consultation
    • Conference
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Support Us
    • Give
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Our Donors
    • Annual Report
    • Healing Arts Celebration
    • Lamplighter Society
  • Contact
    • Careers
  • Blog
    • Crafty Corner

Evanston, IL

Chicago, IL

Highland Park, IL

Phone: 847-425-9708 | Email: info@itachicago.org
Phone: 847-425-9708
Email: info@itachicago.org

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

ita chicago

Institute for therapy through the arts

Support ITA Contact ITA

Music and Dementia

July 23, 2016 by ITAChicago

Andra Duncan Headshot

A Music Therapist’s Perspective on Using Music to Engage a Person with Dementia

ITA Music Therapist Andra Duncan, MT-BC recently wrote a guest article for Dementia.org on six different ways that you can use music to engage your loved one with dementia.  Andra discusses her firsthand experience with those who have dementia and seeing how the power of music moves them. One unique aspect of (live) music is its ability to move a person in ways that other methods may not. Music also helps people connect and communicate when verbal speech may not be viable. Most of the techniques Andra has recommended use live music. Some examples she gives include attending a live concert and playing an instrument together. But why live music? Live music engages people in the present with the help of nonverbal communication, such as eye contact.

Here is an excerpt from the article:
When choosing music for older adults with dementia, consider the following questions. What was popular when your loved one was in his or her late teens and twenties? What song did your parents dance to at their wedding? What are the songs that your loved one learned at a young age? Did your mother or father ever sing songs to you as a child? Did your loved one have any songs of kin that are important to his or her culture?
You can read the full entire article, 6 Ways to Use Music to Engage a Person with Dementia here.

 

Filed Under: Articles, Publications Tagged With: andra duncan, dementia, dementia.org, mental health, music therapist, music therapy

Comments

  1. toddy richman says

    August 15, 2016 at 3:11 pm

    Yeah! what a fine “come ome

    What an enticing “come on”. Hope many respond. Stay well, Toddy

ITA Chicago

Institute for Therapy through the Arts

2130 Green Bay Rd
Evanston, IL 60201

Contact

Subscribe to our mailing list

* indicates required
I am a....
© 2015 All Rights Reserved
FEIN 47-3047364
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
A Bright Site by Brighter Vision