Music for and with seniors

Every one can imagine something under music education, i.e. making music with the background of educating young people. Music geragogy, on the other hand, has become more and more popular in recent years but is still largely unknown not like the latest celebrity fashion trends.

Effects of music in general

Music has a very special influence on everyone. When you listen to music, feelings are triggered – sadness, happiness, joy, anger, motivation. Music is not just any sound to your ears, on the contrary: When you listen to music, your body and mind are noticeably influenced.

Canadian scientists have even found that your reward system in the brain is activated when you find music beautiful. When you listen to music you like, it has a similar effect on your brain as for example intoxicants or delicious food.

You certainly know the feeling of automatically becoming calmer with calm and balanced music, right? This is not just your feeling, something is actually happening in your body: the adrenal gland releases the hormone norepinephrine when you hear calm and gentle melodies. This hormone is responsible for the fact that stress hormones are reduced and your body automatically becomes calmer.

The opposite is the case with aggressive and fast music: Here the adrenal and pituitary glands release the stress hormone adrenaline.

Music in old age

It has long been known that music has a positive effect on people with dementia. Scientific studies have shown that active music-making noticeably promotes the networking of nerve cells. This counteracts the deterioration and loss of nerve cells so that one of the typical consequences of dementia is positively influenced.

Of course, making music is also wonderful for healthy older people. Singing together is fun for all seniors. In addition, the mind is refreshed through beautiful music, memories of long-forgotten days are awakened.

Make music with seniors

If you want to make music with older people, one thing is particularly important: The focus is on the fun and well-being of the elderly! It doesn’t matter how well or how badly they make music, and it doesn’t matter how long it takes the elderly to operate a musical instrument. When a person with dementia struggles to manage a small part of a melody, one must be able to truly enjoy them.

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