Music and Memory

He usually had his eyes closed while the other members sang. One day, I brought drums to hand out- they were Remo’s buffalo drums, which have a handle and a mallet. This man was playing his drum with one mallet when he suddenly reached over and took the mallet from his neighbor. He started playing a military drum cadence with two mallets on the drum on his lap. When we finished the drumming as a group, I sat next to him and he told me about his service in the army. It was the first time he’d spoken in the group in two months!

Parkinson's and Music Therapy

These goals are addressed by using rhythm, melody and movement techniques. For example, rhythmic auditory cueing is a technique in which rhythm is used to facilitate movement and improve gait. This is done by providing a uniform beat that acts as an external cue to guide a patient’s movements and has been shown to benefits gait, walking speed and stride length.

Who Benefits from Music Therapy?

Although I work with many different ages and populations as a music therapist, my work primarily focuses on oncology patients, and adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities and brain injury. I also work with people experiencing general stress. I develop clear goals and objectives for each individual client that work in conjunction with their overall plan of care using both interactive and receptive music therapy techniques.

What is (and isn't) Music Therapy

Through music therapy, clients' abilities are strengthened and transferred to other areas of their lives. For example, music therapy was an integral part of Congresswoman Gabby Gifford’s rehabilitation to regain her speech after surviving a bullet wound to her brain… Music therapists work with adults with Parkinson’s disease to improve motor function and older adults to lessen the effects of Alzheimer’s. Music therapy can reduce physical pain and provide emotional support for clients and their families.

Music Therapy Successes

(207) 233-8734 • kate@mainemusicandhealth.com • Portland, Maine