Music Therapy for People with Dementia

What is music therapy?

All human beings are musical and can respond to music irrespective of age and ability. Even when brain function is affected by illness, music continues to ‘make sense’ for nearly everyone.

Music therapists are skilled musicians who have been trained to use improvisation to draw others into shared music making, engaging a person’s innate creativity and working with difficulties affecting their well being. Pre-composed music may be used too.

What happens in a session?

Sessions vary widely because the work is person centred. The personality of the client, their life story and pathology will all be factors affecting the content of the session. For example, one person may explore a range of feelings through playing tuned or untuned percussion instruments, another may find support through hearing or singing known songs especially meaningful to them.

What does music therapy do for people with dementia? It helps them to:

• Enjoy playing, singing or listening.
• Explore and express feelings.
• Experience a sense of order and coherence.
• Tap into hidden potential.
• Build a relationship not dependent on words.
• Strengthen their sense of identity.

How many people attend a session?

Most people attend independently and their carer waits on the premises although occasionally it is appropriate for a carer to share sessions. Pair work or group work can be offered but our experience is that most people prefer individual sessions.

Music Therapy Options

Fixed Location Service

• You come to us
• Tuesday or Wednesday mornings.
• 30-40 minute sessions.
• Venue in Oxford
• Parking available
• 2 free sessions
• Fees negotiable

Music Therapy at home

In some circumstances it can be arranged for sessions to be held in your own home. Please phone if you would like to discuss this.

Introducing Music Therapy in Residential Homes

We offer a ten week period of music therapy, half a day per week, in residential homes. We communicate closely with staff who make referrals for individual and group music therapy sessions as appropriate. Guideposts subsidises the cost.

Music Therapists

Pemma Spencer Chapman MMT trained at the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Centre in London. She has a special interest in working with people with dementia but also works with children with developmental and emotional problems.

Pemma is managing the music therapy service for Guideposts.

Sarah Verney Caird trained at Nordoff-Robbins and has long experience working with self-­referred adults. Sarah offers sessions for relatives of people living with dementia. both individual and group.

See separate flier for details.

Kate Rowson trained at the Guidhall School of Music. In addition to working for the Guideposts dementia service, she works with adults and children with learning disabilities.

For enquiries and to arrange sessions, please contact Pemma on 01865 775520 or 07981 533002 or at pemma.sc@googlemail.com

Websites which may be of interest:-
Health Professions Council (which regulates music therapy profession): www.hpc-uk.org
The Association of Professional Music Therapists: www.apmt.org