Posts Tagged ‘older adults’
10 Reasons To Learn An Instrument As An Adult
Four Reasons To Hire An Entertainer Instead Of A Music Therapist
I’m a music therapist. That means I travel all over the Kansas City area, visiting nursing homes and assisted living communities. I’m always hauling my guitar and a bunch of other assorted musical gear. When you pass by one of the group sessions I’m leading, you’ll probably see a bunch of folks smiling, singing, and…
Read MoreDetermining Music Preferences – The First Step in Caregiving Through Music
Song Spotlight: “T’ain’t What You Do (It’s the Way That You Do It)”
Mood: Lighthearted Theme: Letting go and taking it easy Tempo: Upbeat Style: Calypso I’m always looking for songs with catchy choruses that lend themselves to new song verses, and I recently found a gem: “T’Ain’t What You Do (It’s The Way That You Do It).” Written by jazz musicians Melvin “Sy” Oliver and James “Trummy” Young, this calypso song was first recorded in…
Read MoreSkin Hunger and Caregiving Through Music
An Irreverent Perspective on Aging in "Older Than My Old Man Now"
Song Spotlight: “Yes, My Darling Daughter”
Mood: Nervous excitement Themes: Parenting, Moms and Daughters, Dating Tempo: Upbeat Genre/style: Big Band era I’ve been trying to think of a good song to highlight for Father’s Day, but the one that keeps coming back is a favorite from my Mother’s Day playlist. There’s a fatherly twist, though, so we’ll go with it. “Yes, My Darling Daughter” is a…
Read MoreTake Off the Pressure: 7 Creative Experiences to Try with Your Loved One with Dementia
Song Spotlight: “Smile”
Mood: Melancholy, Warm Theme: Smiles, Looking to the Future, Dealing with Difficulties Tempo: Moderate Genre: Ballad First, a few statistics. According to the CDC, approximately 20% of people age 55 and older experience some type of mental health concern. Depression is the most common mental health problem among older adults. Depression causes emotional distress, of…
Read MoreSong Spotlight: “Mama Tried”
Mood: Regretful, Defiant, Wistful Theme: Regret, Motherhood/Parenting Tempo: Moderately Fast Genre/style: Classic Country Mother’s Day is coming up in a few days, and in honor of the holiday, I’ve been sharing many songs about motherly advice and love with clients in music therapy. In fact, a few that I’ve spotlighted before work well for this holiday,…
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