Music Therapy

My last blog talked about the power of using your brain with word games. This time I am going to share the benefits of music / music therapy. I recently joined the Prince Albert ladies’ choral group the Watsonairs and I have very much enjoyed singing and having to use my brain to read notes and use my ear to listen to the notes being sang from my sidekicks that sing along beside me. This is a bad place to be if you are tone deaf!

I did some research and here are some main reasons why music is good for you and your brain.

Mental Well-being: Music listeners have higher scores for mental well-being and slightly reduced levels of anxiety and depression.

Cognitive Function: Active musical engagement is associated with higher rates of happiness and good cognitive function.

Brain Activation: Music activates a wide array of brain regions and networks, which helps keep various brain pathways strong.

Emotional Response: Music can evoke deep, complex emotions and has a significant impact on our emotional well-being.

Memory and Endurance: It can boost memory, build task endurance, and improve response to pain.

Total Brain Workout: Listening to or playing music provides a total brain workout, enhancing sleep quality, mood, mental alertness, and memory.

Focus and Stress Relief: Music may boost cognitive function, relieve symptoms of anxiety and stress, and help maintain focus.

These benefits highlight the powerful influence music has on human beings, not just as a source of entertainment, but as a tool for enhancing various aspects of brain health and emotional well-being.

What about dementia?

Does it help with that or spark memories? Yes, it does. What research has found is that music appears to be a unique and powerful stimulus for reaffirming personal identity and social connection in individuals with dementia. Certain activities remain preserved in most instances and are very resistant to decline. These include activities such as listening to music, playing an instrument, attending concerts, or dancing. The memory for these activities is called Procedural Memory (PM) and remains intact even when other forms of cognition are lost.

I know from personal experience that a song can bring emotions and memories that have been hidden for years, but instantly a song can bring back a memory from the past. So even though dementia robs a person of their main memory, music can evoke emotional responses and connections. Familiar songs from one’s youth can transport a person back in time bringing memories and emotions associated with that moment in time.

Participating in music has been shown to improve mood and decrease anxiety in people with dementia, leading to potential reductions in medication use. Now that is a definite benefit and a valid reason to keep music in your life and keep music in the life of a person with dementia. I seldom go to a nursing / care home – are they playing music for the people with dementia or letting them sit in silence? I hope they have pleasant upbeat music being played for their enjoyment.

I have told my family many times – if I end up in a nursing home and with dementia make sure you have music on for me. I do not want a television on – just play my favorite music, which is almost anything. More studies need to be done to confirm all of the specific benefits of music therapy, but what is known is music can play a significant role in enhancing the quality of life for those living with dementia. And as far as I am concerned music has enhanced my life – now and in the past.

And that’s probably enough about music for this blog.

Spring has sprung, the air is still cool, but the little bit of snow we did have this winter is disappearing. We will go through that transition of a grey and dirty looking landscape to green leaves and blooms everywhere.

A refreshing rain will fall and the earthy quality will bring a smile to our face.

This phenomenon is known as “petrichor”, a term coined by Australian scientists in 1964 to describe the unique scent associated with rain. A bit of tidbit information for your brain. I did not know this before today. The actual definition is: Petrichor refers to the earthy smell produced when rain falls on dry soil. The word has ancient Greek roots meaning rock or stone. A new word for me to put into my brain and remember to use.

A lot of us are anxious to start planting flowers and gardens and will enjoy the smell of the earth as we move it around. Apparently some women when pregnant eat dirt – I can certainly understand loving the smell of it, but nah I don’t want to eat it. Although I certainly did try it as a young child. And a carrot pulled fresh from the garden, with some dirt on it and wiped off on one’s jeans still tastes mighty fine. A little dirt never hurt anyone.

For our upcoming Watsonairs spring concert we are performing some songs from the soundtrack Mama Mia by Abba. Therefore, the first song that came to mind was “Thank You for The Music” by Abba. It was featured on the group’s fifth studio album, “The Album” 1977. Amanda Seyfried performed it in the movie Mama Mia! I thought it was a good choice since the main topic was about music this time.

Until next time – enjoy the warmer days of spring and the songs that will be sung by our birds returning from a warmer climate. Windows will open and singing birds will wake us in the early hours of the morning.

Rain is being forecasted – April showers bring May flowers and green grass!

Merle Lee Ann Pratt – merleleeannskitchen.com merleleeann@gmail.com

This column is sponsored by MacKenzie Funeral Chapel and Crematorium – We will be there when you need us – Bev and Brian Stobbs

130 9th St. E, Prince Albert, SK

Phone: (306) 763-8488 – https://mackenziechapel.ca/

by Merle Lee Ann Pratt – Merle Lee Ann’s Kitchen, author of “A Baker’s Dozen”

Music Therapy

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