Comments on: Guitar 101: Jingle Bells http://www.americansongwriter.com/2009/11/guitar-101-jingle-bells/ American Songwriter Magazine Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:05:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: Verena http://www.americansongwriter.com/2009/11/guitar-101-jingle-bells/comment-page-1/#comment-4793 Verena Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:12:55 +0000 http://www.americansongwriter.com/?p=29037#comment-4793 Hi Gary, I have had similar experiences to you when working as a music therapist in nursing homes in Sydney, Australia. For example, after hearing a familiar song from the 1930s one woman clearly reminisced about going to dances with her musician brother when she was young. She had severe dementia and usually only spoke unintelligible 'word salad' - e.g. "dit dit dit dat dat dat." The music appeared to both stimulate this woman's longterm memory and also enabled her to regain the ability to speak - albeit temporarily. It's great that you are encouraging other musicians to use their talents for therapeutic purposes. I hope more and more people realise that making music together - as a community - can be incredibly satisfying. Success doesn't always have to equate with being on stage in front of an audience. Some of my most fulfilling musical moments have been working with children and their families in hospital. There's really nothing like a vocal improvisation with a baby who understands you're singing their language! All the Best Verena Hi Gary,
I have had similar experiences to you when working as a music therapist in nursing homes in Sydney, Australia. For example, after hearing a familiar song from the 1930s one woman clearly reminisced about going to dances with her musician brother when she was young. She had severe dementia and usually only spoke unintelligible ‘word salad’ – e.g. “dit dit dit dat dat dat.” The music appeared to both stimulate this woman’s longterm memory and also enabled her to regain the ability to speak – albeit temporarily.

It’s great that you are encouraging other musicians to use their talents for therapeutic purposes. I hope more and more people realise that making music together – as a community – can be incredibly satisfying. Success doesn’t always have to equate with being on stage in front of an audience. Some of my most fulfilling musical moments have been working with children and their families in hospital. There’s really nothing like a vocal improvisation with a baby who understands you’re singing their language!

All the Best

Verena

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