1.1 Music Therapy Music therapy is the practice of using music as a form of treatment for certain conditions (especially mental conditions). The idea of using music as a form of therapy dates back to Aristotle’s and Plato’s days. Aristotle understood the great impact music had on listeners and spoke about how it can affect the emotional states of an individual. “Music directly imitates the passions or states of the soul… when one listens to music that imitates a certain passion, he becomes imbued with the same passion; and if over a long time he habitually listens to music that rouses ignoble passions, his whole character will be shaped to an ignoble form” (Aristotle). Music can affect the brain and body in unexpected ways. It can be used …show more content…
There are some rules for music therapists when they are treating patients with AD. An example is checking the type of music the patient likes by looking at their body language or asking people close to them. Most importantly, the therapist should remember that music awakens both positive and negative emotions, so, the therapist should keep a close watch on the patient and stop if the patient shows signs of distress or discomfort (Dementia UK). I. Listening to music The first type of music therapy is listening to music. Music therapists play repetitive songs for the patients. The songs can vary from classical music (which is known to improve memory) to the patient’s favorite song. They can also play music that is associated with big events that took place in the patient’s life; this will enhance memories and it may be easier for the patient to sing or hum along and react to the music since they are already familiar with it. “A study by Johnson JK showed a significant improvement in the spatial-temporal task on the AD twin after listening to a piece of a piano sonata of Mozart in 1998” ( Johnson …show more content…
Cognitive processes include: speech, reasoning, the ability to solve problems and make judgments, as well as the ability to store and recall memories. The impairment of cognitive processes makes it hard to impossible for the patient to complete a task as easy as going out to throw garbage. Individuals that experience cognitive impairment may experience emotional outbursts and be frustrated at times. They may also push away people that are trying to help and isolate themselves, making the problem worse (Psych