Community News
Field Notes From a Music Therapist

Our bodies are like finely tuned instruments. Sam is in middle-stage of Alzheimer’s disease. Once in our weekly session Sam had a maraca in hand and there was a tambourine and some rhythm sticks within easy reach. An activity we often did together, “Switch” was now in progress: I was playing guitar while singing a country song, and I said “Switch!”. I noticed that Sam made the switch to tambourine without missing a beat, literally. How did this happen? Neurobiologically-speaking, a synergy developed between the musical pulse and Sam’s inner body rhythms: His body movements strove to match that pulse. This triggered his circulation by increasing the blood flow to meet the demand. Amazing?! Yes! A mystery? No longer, yet, it does not cease to amaze.

Share Button