Another great piece on music therapy’s and caregivers’ roles in Representative Gabrielle Giffords’ recovery.
Dance, storytelling, moths, and music
I am sorry to be missing the American Music Therapy Association National Conference this year, but alas, I simply will not be there.
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Here in Minneapolis, though, I have been reading up (however briefly) on some information I’ve been given.
On Monday, one of my co-workers at the care center brought in an article published in the AARP Bulletin, entitled, “Living Art.” This co-worker is very active in theatre, and has even begun a drama group at the care center. I have been able to see their rehearsals, and I love seeing residents display a variety of talents.
Find the article here.
The author of the article definitely advocates for the benefits of creative expression in residents in assisted living and care centers. I was really happy to read about “The Dancing Heart” program, offered by the Kairos Dance Theatre right here in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The work of Stagebridge Theatre Company in Oakland, California, was also included in the piece, but of course what interested me most was the mention of Songwriting Works.
The mission of Songwriting Works is to “restore health and community through the power of song.” As the name implies, their intention is to spread the impact of songwriting to the elderly population. I was curious, as I perused their website, if there would be any mention of music therapy. In the FAQ page, there were some nicely worded summaries of the distinction between music therapy and their mission.
I am always excited to know what else there is out there.
*While reading about Stagebridge Theatre Company, I thought that the awesome podcast, The Moth, could venture out to the elderly population. That would be storytelling.
Using sound waves on cancer cells
I listened to the most recent podcast of “This American Life” this evening, and was intrigued by one of the stories that followed a music teacher who teamed up with a cancer researcher to find ways to use sound, or rather electromagnetic waves in this case, to kill cancer cells.
If that’s not one important use of sound (arguably music), I don’t know what is!
You can hear that portion of This American Life right here.
Songwriting for veterans
I heard the following story on my drive home from my massive day at the care center.
Vets Write Music to Heal the Wounds of War
” ‘You know, it’s a way of talking about this stuff without having to stand up and be feeling like they’re pouring their heart our (sic) or be sitting on a couch talking to a therapist or anything,’ [Dustin] Welch says.”
Using arts and culture money to build a stadium
Funding for a new Minnesota Vikings stadium is currently being discussed, and among the possibilities is to use a portion of Minnesota’s Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment.
Dayton on stadium: ‘No breakthrough moment’ | Minnesota Public Radio News.
According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 19.75% of the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund will be “spent only for arts, arts education, and arts access, and to preserve Minnesota’s history and cultural heritage (approximately $48 million in FY 2010 and $54.5 million in FY 2011).”
And so, I bristle at the following:
“[Republican House Speaker Kurt] Zellers, who insisted he was neutral on the measure, said it’s important to note that supporters of using Legacy dollars only want to tap money from the arts and cultural heritage portion, and not the outdoors parts of the fund.” All Things Considered, 10/28/2011, 5:20 p.m.