Dancing Hands and Creative Souls » Music and Alzheimer’s

Fingertip Tapping

admin — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 01:59:02 +0000

Marge was drawn into the room where we had a bossa nova CD playing. She was dramatically moving to the music. I placed Dancing Hands taps in front of her as she sat down. She could not get her fingers to grasp them, so I held the handles down and she very naturally started tapping the bouncing discs on the table. It sounded like a typewriter and it even looked like she was typing. She not only liked the sound, but seemed to like the feel of her fingers making the rhythm.

Humming a Picture

admin — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 03:23:16 +0000

Sonda is not able to put words together because of Alzheimer’s, but she loves to sing, especially beautiful trills that sound like opera. One day, I handed her a paintbrush. She dipped it in the blue and started humming high notes, low notes, and in-between. She was simultaneoulsy moving her brush in circles to the notes. She was immersed in the arts and very happy.

Music Soothes the Soul

admin — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 06:01:25 +0000

Ginny spends her days in a wheelchair with her head down. She is in the end-stages of Alzheimer’s. She cannot focus enough to do very much at all. Last week, I placed a Reverie Harp on her lap. I strummed it once and waited to see what she would do. We sat for several minutes in silence and she moved her hand on the strings and enjoyed the thrill of hearing the music that she was making. We sat together for the next 20 minutes experimenting with the sounds. I could feel the release.

Try the Ukelele

admin — Tue, 11 May 2010 02:39:55 +0000

A guitar is wonderful for sound but often gets jostled and bumped in hallways and doorjams. A ukelele is so easy to carry around and play. I learned to play one a few months ago and it has been invaluable! It is most enjoyable to go room to room and sing to whoever is there, if invited in. It is especially fun if family members are hanging out. We reminisce and play songs from the past. A most recent favorite is “You get a line and I’ll get a pole and we’ll go fishin’ in the crawdad hole.” Many times, we put new words to familiar tunes, like “Down by the Riverside”. Much conversation comes between songs.

Arnold Remembers

admin — Sun, 09 May 2010 21:04:21 +0000

Arnold shuffles all day long and is unable to communicate because of Alzheimer’s. I asked him if he would be willing to come outside with me because we were starting to see the first signs of spring. He slowly enters into the sunshine, stopping at the door, as his body gets used to the brightness. As I pointed to the leaves sprouting on the bushes, his entire attention went to my guitar which was perched on the outdoor furniture. I followed him and watched him bend down and lightly pluck the strings. I helped him sit down and laid the guitar in his lap. He lightly placed his fingers in chord positions and loved on it, holding tightly to it. It was evident that he had played it before…who knows how long ago. That moment for him was the best medicine.

The Music Lives On

admin — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 01:29:40 +0000

George has had a long life of accomplishments in technology, music, and art. Things started changing as he developed Alzheimers. The talent he has of playing the piano lives on. One of his present joys is sitting down at the piano in the dining room and playing the piano with a flourish.