Music as therapy

[Sylvie Pacey]

Hi to all musicians. I am interested in the use of music as therapy especially to elderly patients with poor memories. Is there anyone out there with a similar interest or information. I play a Casio workstation and have three singers who work with me entertaining the elderly in homes and clubs. I try to use music to enhance moods and trigger memories. 3/4 time seems especially helpful.

[Krummhorn]

I tend to agree with you, Sylvie ... music was probably part of a normal evening in some homes of those older folks who grew up without televsion, etc. Whenever I play the old familiar tunes, these people start singing out loud and have such pleasant expressions on their faces. Indeed, it does cause them to remember the good old days of yore.

[Sylvie Pacey]

Have you deliberately used music to change moods at any time. I do find that even quite advanced alzheimers patients respond to the slower music but will liven up after a little while and like to join in quite fast numbers. I know that the stimulation can last for many hours sometimes.

[Krummhorn]

That's a real interesting observation, Sylvie. Although I do not deal directly with elderly medical patients, I do play for an aging church congregation. Needless to say, what 'mood' I am able to present during a prelude does have an effect on those parishioners attending the service.
I commend you in your endeavors to help these people through your music.

[Sylvie Pacey]

Your reply was interesting as I play organ for a small church here as deputy organist and also play for communion once a month for a local care home. Besides being "Head cook and bottlewasher" for my small group of entertainers. For many years I grappled with piano music to very little success until I found "Lead Sheets" and learnt my harmonies using chord symbols which opened up a whole world of possibilities for arranging and improvising.
I never could manage to read both bass and treble staves at the same time. I am in my Seventies and it wasn't until my last eye test that I learnt I had astygmatism which explained my difficulties. Of course, with lead sheets which I like to write out myself with the Symbols just above the
Stave.... problem solved! Thank you for your remarks it is so nice to hear from someone interested in musical Moods.
Have a lovely Christmas and enjoy your Carols.

[cessy]

I think music can really affect a person either positively or negatively. Sometimes, when we listen to music, we tend to change our mood depending to the type of music that we hear.

[Sylvie Pacey]

Thank you Cessy for your observations. I know from experience that music can be life enhancing and the real beauty of it is that it is completely international. No verbal language is neccessary only the emotions.

[protos]

Without wishing to be censored, or controversial, music is the only thing I know - aside from orgasm - that sends shivers throughout my entire body. No other art that I know can affect the emotions, or move me, in the same way. I love film - overall probably more - but something happens when you get to know a beautiful piece of music really well that does not happen with other art.

With books, the rule is that you read it a second or third time and the impact lessens. With music, the reverse is more true - listen a second, third, fourth, fifth, hundreth, thousanth time....... With a good piece of music, it takes hundreds if not thousands of plays before the emotional impact of listening starts to wear off.

I can fully understand why it is an effective therapeutic tool - it engages the senses more fully and completely, and for more time, than any other art.

Best wishes
Rory

[Krummhorn]

Without wishing to be censored, or controversial, music is the only thing I know - aside from orgasm - that sends shivers throughout my entire body.

I must admit, Rory, that I've never heard it expressed that way before, but it is a wonderful analogy, and I really liked it.

True, there are certain pieces that still get me emotionally when I play them - even after hundreds of times romping through the same notes. Music is such a wonderful expression, and when it eminates from the heart and soul, it is just that much better.

Lars

[Sylvie Pacey]

Thank you all for your observations... a great help to me. I was very inerested to read your remarks rory and it made me realise that music is freely available at any time once you have a melody in your memory it can be recalled at any time without any mechanical device.What a wonderful gift we all have if we choose to use it.

[protos]

Thank you all for your observations... a great help to me. I was very inerested to read your remarks rory and it made me realise that music is freely available at any time once you have a melody in your memory it can be recalled at any time without any mechanical device.What a wonderful gift we all have if we choose to use it.

It must be over 20 years since I studied music at university - both a good and a bad thing - but I do remember reading a book on aesthetics (forget the author's name now). What struck me was the writer's grasp of how art affects people.

He - or perhaps it was a she - described how music affects listeners. Its main impact comes not from the surprises that are sprung on the listener (like a novel surprises its reader, or a film surprises its audience) but from creating an expectation in the listener, and then playing with their expectations (sometimes fulfilling, sometimes not fulfilling the listeners' musical 'norms'). In a sense, the composer plays a guessing game with the listener.

Unlike books/films, the pleasure comes from knowing what will happen and that is why getting to know a piece of music well is so rewarding. We love the anticipation (unlike a book where knowing what will happen generally spoils the pleasure). The whole 'chemistry' of listening to music is different.

Sometimes I listen to music and get frustrated at the way the musicians think that cleverness equates to good music. Being 'clever' in music is about how the listening experience is constructed, not the playing experience. Many progressive rock bands, jazz artists, or classical stars, sometimes lose their way in this regard.

Think of why Pink Floyd or the Beatles are so durable (and why their music transfers better from generation to generation). Pink Floyd understood - perhaps better than others - how to create a breathtaking listening experience that does not require the listener to be a virtuoso musician or intellectual. In this sense, they have something in common with more popular classical musics.

Does this make sense to others on here?

Rory

[cessy]

Thank you Cessy for your observations. I know from experience that music can be life enhancing and the real beauty of it is that it is completely international. No verbal language is neccessary only the emotions.

Yes indeed. I always believe that music is a form of art wherein it was written based on true emotions. There is always a truth found on each of the lyric written in it.

[Sylvie Pacey]

Interesting observations Rory, thanks a lot.Sylvie Pacey

[Sylvie Pacey]

to Sparky from Sylvie Pacey, read your message about original compositions, I have written a piece called "Autumn Chimes" with lyrics . Couldn't seem to get message to you at my first attempt. Perhaps this will reach you. You can contact me at sylviepacey@frizzle38.wanadoo.co.uk I see you are on the Tim Pitman site, I think he is great, hopefull i shall see him on the 20th January at West Huntspill. Perhaps you will be there? Best of luck with the album. I have recorded two instrumental C.Ds of old standards for the Somerset Association for the Blind which raise money for the charity.

[sparky]

Hello Sylvie sorry you had trouble contacting me I do not get enough time to check all the new posts these days still you have me now Yes I will be at West Huntspill as a matter of interest where did you get your tickets from as it is an all ticket show I do not think there will be any left to sell on the door if you do not have tickets as yet please call me and I will keep one back for you there is an advert going out on BBC Somerset Sound this week so what few tickets are left should go pretty fast have you seen the video's on www.burnham-on-sea.com or try the tube.com and search Tim Pitman and see the boy himself in action as for the origonal composition perhaps you could bring a copy along to West Huntspill we can talk then, if you need to talk before then greatflame@msn.com will get me at any time as it also connects to my mobile phone thanks talk soon Sparky

to Sparky from Sylvie Pacey, read your message about original compositions, I have written a piece called "Autumn Chimes" with lyrics . Couldn't seem to get message to you at my first attempt. Perhaps this will reach you. You can contact me at sylviepacey@frizzle38.wanadoo.co.uk I see you are on the Tim Pitman site, I think he is great, hopefull i shall see him on the 20th January at West Huntspill. Perhaps you will be there? Best of luck with the album. I have recorded two instrumental C.Ds of old standards for the Somerset Association for the Blind which raise money for the charity.