“Music is medicine for the soul.” -Plato
Music is one of the few things that can lift our spirits when we feel really down. It can bring us joy and remind us of happy times. Many songs make us think of moments from our past. When we hear them again, it’s like we’re right back in that memory. Taking a trip down memory lane can feel so special.
In the video below, you’ll meet an elderly man who has lived in a nursing home for 10 years. He has seizures and often feels sad and quiet.
To help him feel better, the caregivers had a great idea. They brought out iPods and played some of his favorite music from his younger days.
Henry used to sing and dance all the time when he was younger. That’s how his daughter remembers him best. It had been a long time, but when he hears his favorite music again, his whole face lights up—just like a Christmas tree!
It helps him more than any medicine, and it works fast. As soon as the music starts, Henry begins to rock back and forth and sing. It’s like he comes alive again!
When the caregivers take off his headphones to talk to him, the music’s effect doesn’t go away. Henry usually says very little and struggles to answer even simple questions. But now, it’s like he’s a brand-new person—or more like the happy man he used to be.
When they ask Henry about his favorite music, he answers right away with a big smile, “Cab Calloway!” Cab Calloway was a swing-era singer who performed at the Cotton Club in Harlem. Then they ask Henry about his favorite song, and he starts singing it on the spot! His voice still sounds great—young and full of energy, like the music brought him back to life.
“I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music.”
– Billy Joel
Watch the video below:
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