Music, Memory and Emotion

Music and art can enrich the lives of people with Alzheimer's disease. Both allow for self-expression and engagement, even after dementia has progressed. MUSIC can be powerful. Studies have shown music may reduce agitation and improve behavioral issues that are common in the middle-stages of the disease. Even in the late-stages of Alzheimer's, a person may be able to tap a beat or sing lyrics to a song from childhood. Music provides a way to connect, even after verbal communication has become difficult. ART PROJECTS can create a sense of accomplishment and purpose. They can provide the person with dementia — as well as caregivers — an opportunity for self-expression (from alz.org).
Oliver Sacks, M.D., noted neurologist and best-selling author of Musicophilia, discusses below the impact of personalized music on people suffering from Alzheimer’s and severe memory loss.

How Playing Music Affects The Developing Brain

Ani Patel, an associate professor of psychology at Tufts University and the author of “Music, Language, and the Brain,” says “there’s now a growing body of work that suggests that actually learning to play a musical instrument does have impacts on other abilities.” These include speech perception, the ability to understand emotions in the voice and the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously. Patel also says music neuroscience research has important implications about the role of music in the lives of young children.“If we know how and why music changes the brain in ways that affect other cognitive abilities, this could have a real impact on the value we put on it as an activity in the schools, not to mention all the impact it has on emotional development, emotional maturity, social skills, stick-to-itiveness, things we typically don’t measure in school but which are hugely important in a child’s ultimate success.”
-- Read full article on DailyGood

Creating Music. Transforming Futures.

"Through music we bring into the grim reality of the prison regime hope for life inside and for a future life outside" - Sarah Price, former Chair
The Irene Taylor Trust was set up in 1995 in memory of Irene Taylor, the wife of the late Lord Chief Justice Peter Taylor, who had a personal interest in both penal reform and music. They believe that creating original music collaboratively can make a powerful impact on people’s lives, bringing them new confidence, important transferrable social skills and raised aspirations for the future. Music can break down barriers and help people who have found themselves pushed to the fringes of society to become celebrated and valued members at the heart of the community. Their projects (Music in Prisons, Making Tracks and Sounding Out) support NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training) young people, ex-prisoners and people of all ages in prisons and light a spark that can be the catalyst in supporting them to change their lives for the better.

Motivating students to fight against hardships

Andrés Godoy is a gifted guitarist, and against all odds, continued to be one after he had lost his right arm in an accident when he was only 15. Through passion, imagination, perseverance, Andrés was able to cope with adversity and today, he inspires many - foremost younger generations - to pursue their dreams in music and beyond and to fight hardships of life.

Finding a sense of higher purpose

"Above all things as teachers and educators we need to remember that our job is to change the way our students see their world so that they can live it to their potential, not to the potential that the policy-makers have for them or people in control or people with the silver bullets. As educators our job is to ensure that each and every one of our individual students see their world and see that possibility"
Richard Gerver has been described as one of the most inspirational leaders of his generation. He argues that great leadership is about serving the needs of the people that work for you and rely upon you. The three core principles that underpin Richard's philosophy are communication, empowerment and impact. Richard's insights into change, leadership and education are unique thanks to his own extraordinary journey, which has seen him go from struggling actor, copywriter and estate agent, to becoming an award winning teacher and school principal, whose ground breaking work in education was celebrated by the British National Teaching awards and UNESCO amongst others. Gerver works closely with Sir Ken Robinson who cites Richard as one of the world's most exceptional educators; he features in Robinson's best-selling book, The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything.

Revolutionizing Education from the Ground Up

"Creative Schools: The Grassroots Revolution That’s Transforming Education" is the latest book by Sir Ken Robinson, an internationally recognized leader in the development of creativity, innovation and human resources in education and in business. The book focuses how to transform US troubled educational system. At a time when standardized testing businesses are raking in huge profits, when many schools are struggling, and students and educators everywhere are suffering under the strain, Robinson points the way forward. He argues for an end to our outmoded industrial educational system and proposes a highly personalized, organic approach that draws on today’s unprecedented technological and professional resources to engage all students, develop their love of learning, and enable them to face the real challenges of the twenty-first century.
-- Watch CBS News interview here