Since childhood we’ve used music to remember – just think of all the songs to learn the alphabet and the 50 states. So, perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising that music offers profound benefits to people experiencing memory loss or cognitive decline.
“Music has a way of overcoming barriers,” says Paul Scholtz, artistic co-director of Cantus Vocal Ensemble and guest on this episode of Off the Charts. Shelley Quiala, executive director of Cantus, also provides great insights during this conversation about how the arts help to foster connections and healing. Listen to the episode or read the transcript.
Missing memories: A common refrain
“We all have our own foibles with memory, even if we’re not experiencing abnormal cognitive decline,” says Paul.
To give voice to this shared human experience and spark new depths of understanding, Cantus created “Wanting Memories,” a concert program centered around the emotional and evocative power of music as a link to memory.
According to Paul, the topic of memory is a “sweet spot” between shared experiences and deeper understanding. It gives us the chance to connect with others about an everyday experience like forgetfulness. “Also, we can dig a little deeper, sharing personal stories and confronting some of the uncomfortable pieces with Alzheimer’s and other dementias,” he says.
Deeper understanding includes partnering with the experts. So when developing the program, Cantus connected with Dementia Friends, a global organization focused on changing the way people think, act and talk about dementia.
Dementia Friends provided training about what it’s like to experience dementia, what causes it and how to talk to someone experiencing memory loss. Paul says this information was “really eye-opening for me because I never had someone so concretely share things like that.”
Music as medicine
The benefits of music extend far beyond education and entertainment – it can also help promote healing. Many studies show that music (and art in general) provide physical and mental health benefits to people with dementia and other conditions.
“I find the arts to be the most powerful when they intersect with something else,” Shelley says, calling out the arts and health care as a prime example.
In fact, the evidence for art as medicine is so compelling that doctors in Massachusetts can now prescribe arts interventions for a range of medical conditions that affect physical and mental health. This is part of a new arts prescription program from Art Pharmacy and the Mass Cultural Council.
Shelley was living on the East coast when the arts prescription program was introduced. And it was while exploring the idea of social prescription that she discovered Cantus. For her, the “Wanting Memories” show is illustrative of art’s potential benefit in health care.
“I was like, oh, this is the stuff. This is huge. This is important. This is gaining traction,” Shelley says.
Striking a chord among those affected by dementia
While listening to music can be powerful medicine, being part of the choir may be even more beneficial, particularly for those affected by dementia.
Paul recalls how Dementia Friends emphasized “the importance of community [and] the importance of not getting isolated, which can happen both to folks experiencing the diseases, but also the caregivers.”
The Giving Voice Initiative is a worldwide movement to bring song and community to people with dementia and their caregivers. There are currently seven dementia-friendly choruses in the Twin Cities, including three for people who speak Spanish.
Cantus was able to feature a Giving Voice chorus in one of their “Wanting Memories” shows. Paul recalls participating in rehearsals with the chorus and being struck by how singing remains an enduring skill despite changes in memory.
“The singing is really powerful and strong. It’s a great choir. And the energy, the vibe is so up and so positive,” Paul says. “You have no idea who’s experiencing cognitive decline, who isn’t.”
Make key changes with music and art
It’s clear that music and art will continue to play a valuable role in healing people and communities.
While there’s no official arts prescription program in Minnesota or Wisconsin, HealthPartners is a firm believer in the benefits of music therapy and art therapy as inpatient and outpatient care for many conditions.
Cantus, for their part, continues to use their voices to forge connections and encourage tough conversations with programs on topics such as the immigrant experience and toxic masculinity.
“It can be so overwhelming with what’s happening in our world,” Paul says. “To feel like you have the chance to make a positive difference is really, really powerful.”
