If you've got a few minutes, here's a fascinating and well-written article "How Music Can Reach the Silenced Brain" by Concetta M. Tomaino. Just click on this link: http://www.dana.org/news/cerebrum/detail.aspx?id=1722.
Whether you read the article now, or later, come with me to see how what Ms. Tomaino writes about occurs wherever there's music and nursing home residents.... that is, live music and nursing home residents.
"W" sat slumped in his wheelchair (seatbelted in so he wouldn't slide out onto the floor) when Brother B (the greyhound) and I arrived outside the nurse's station on one of the unit's in the County Home. "W" showed no signs of life, except he'd occasionally let out a kind of roar every so often. I put my clarinet together, and Brother and I went to a room a few doors down where blind "S" sat by the window. I asked if she'd like some music, and told her it was Karen and the greyhound here to visit. Brother laid down right at her feet, and I played "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" as "S" immediately began to sing along.
Later, we went back in the hallway where "W" was still parked by the wall. I kneeled down in front of him and asked if he'd like a song. His gorgeous blue eyes opened wide, and he gave a slight nod. Brother stood next to the wheelchair as "W" put his hand on Brother's shoulders. I played "If I Had You" and "W" broke out in a grin. "Another?" I asked, and got a more noticeable nod. "Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue" and at the end of playing "W" said "has anybody seen my gal!" Now "W" was sitting up straight, and the light in his eyes was remarkable. I played a few more tunes, and then Brother and I went to play for others... similar to "W." As I walked away, though, I saw another resident, in a wheelchair, go up to "W" and start conversing with him. I'll bet they were comparing notes....
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