Thursday, July 31, 2014

Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: The Power Of Music! Therapy?

Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: The Power Of Music! Therapy?:      Music therapy is defined as "the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within ...

The Power Of Music! Therapy?

     Music therapy is defined as "the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program (Home page of the American Music Therapy Association, 2014). This blog is not about music therapy as it is dealing with therapeutic power of music with patients suffering from alzheimer`s and dementia. Shown during the Sundance Film Festival, "Alive Inside" is a film that takes a position advocating for ipods to be given to patients.

     Highlighting three patients in a nursing home facility, therapist Dan Cohen (who inspired "Alive Inside", and founder of Music & Memory) hands ipods to nursing home residence.When head phones are given to patients, a transformation occur with mood, and depth of emotions experienced by patients. These patients become social, and receive other brain stimulating benefits. One patient said music gives him the feeling of love, as he listens to Cab Calloway.

     Interviewing a second patient who uses both a wheel chair and walker, this patient gathers strength to put her walker aside, and dance to Afro-Cuban music in her head phones. This patient`s physical benefits of music was obvious, but how music transformed her spirit was something to behold. Another lady bedridden appeared to be in a coma, but was able to move her legs and head while music played though her head phones.

     I am not trained as a music therapist, but seeing the results of ipods were impressive. If technology exist for adding quality of life to nursing home patients, it should be a legitimate option. A licensed music therapist should be available to facilitate use of music and equipment, such as ipods.

     We are judged by how we treat (or mistreat) our seniors and sick, and our responsibility as a society is to assure those in our care the right to a quality end-of-life care and service.

     Thank you, Dan Cohen, and those affiliated with the documentary "Alive Inside" for taking-on a noble film project.