Alzheimers, Dementia and the Healing Power of Music: Singalong Therapy (A Workbook With Mp3s)

By Cheryl Hodge

This breakthrough method in temporarily restoring brain connections has been sweeping the planet. Music has had a proven and undeniably swift effect on improving the health of most patients afflicted with a dementia-related disease. Whether the patient can sing well or not is a moot point.... when any musical memory comes up, new neural pathways are created in the brain. Though this is, admittedly, perhaps a temporary "fix" for these diseases, it can created new quality time; both for the patient, and the time shared with loved ones and/or care givers. This book is also a suggested source for caregivers, themselves.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Feb 21, 2017
• ISBN: 9780981170718

Book preview

What others say about this book:

Music is a source of joy for humans. For patients with dementia, who lose the ability to enjoy many of their former activities, music can have a special role in connecting them to pleasant memories, feelings of happiness, and humanity. Music reduces symptoms of depression, anxiety, and agitation among patients with dementia, which can also help their caregivers. We don’t have many treatments for that are as safe and spirit-affirming as music, so it is a therapy that is almost always worth trying. I am delighted that Cheryl Hodge, a brilliant jazz musician, is offering this program to persons experiencing dementia and their caregivers. I strongly recommend this program. Enjoy!

Bree Johnston MD MPH

Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of Washington

"To watch a person’s mind deteriorate is a terrible thing, especially when you know that – for her career – my wife, Karen, was a very bright, very talented nurse. I had to watch this decline in Karen’s mind.

Ironically, earlier in her life, Karen visualized having a nonprofit home on her folk’s farm near Olympia for patient’s suffering with dementia/Alzheimer’s and other similar maladies. Unfortunately this dream will never be realized.

A natural singer like Karen can respond very comfortably to Cheryl’s coaching and there is no doubt that she fits comfortably into Cheryl’s singing therapy program. Cheryl herself is very positive about the results. Personally, in watching this almost magical chemistry between Cheryl (as tutor) and Karen (as student) I have witnessed some wonderful results. All the songs evidently bring back some recall of past experience. For example, evidently Karen’s favorite song to sing is Moon-river. In singing this song with Cheryl, I see Karen’s face and smile light up with what looks like absolute ecstasy."

Ray McInnis,

Professor Emeritus, Western Washington University

TRACK LIST

Music (mp3s) to this music may be found at the following link:

https://www.cherylhodge.com/alzheimer-s

1:Warm-ups from Chapter One (a gently designed warm-up for dementia patients)

Song Tracks (Songs are presented in alphabetical order; all are public domain.)

2. April Showers

3. America, The Beautiful

4. Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home

5. California (Here I Come)

6. Carolina In the Morning

7. Daisy Bell (Daisy, Daisy, Give Me Your Answer, True)

8. Danny Boy

9. Five Foot Two (Has Anybody Seen My Gal)

10. For Me and My Gal

11. God Bless America

12. I Don’t Want to Play In Your Yard

13. I’m A Yankee Doodle Dandy

14. Let Me Call You Sweetheart

15. Michael Row The Boat Ashore

16. My Wild Irish Rose

17. O Canada

18. Scarborough Fair

19. Shine On, Harvest Moon

20. Star Spangled Banner

21. When Irish Eyes Are Smiling

22. You’re A Grand Old Flag

Spiritual Songs and Holiday Songs

23. Amazing Grace

24. Down By The Riverside

25. Jingle Bells

26. Silent Night

27. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

Contents

What others say about this book:

Preface

Chapter One:

Determining The Patient’s Musical Background (and Warm-ups!)

Chapter Two:

Choosing What to Sing

Chapter Three:

Tricks That Jolt The Memory

Chapter Four:

Music & The Brain: Bloom’s Taxonomy

Chapter Five:

How Parts of the Brain Are Affected Positively

Chapter Six

Healing of the Spirit

Chapter Seven:

How to Enjoy Your New Connection

Chapter Eight:

Keeping Track of Progress: Maintaining A Log

Chapter Nine:

The Songs

Preface

I am not a neurologist or a therapist; let’s get that straight, right off the bat. Although I’ve done some independent reading on things like the