“If music be the food of love, play on.” William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night

I recently met a family member who came to visit Avon Court for her partner, who is living with dementia. I was already aware that her partner loved music, and she told me that because of his dementia, he often cannot complete basic, everyday tasks, but can remember every lyric to any song, even obscure songs that other people have long forgotten. 

This got me thinking; what is it about music that stays with us when other memories have gone? 

At Avon Court there is always music playing somewhere in the home, and one or two of the team love singing with the residents as well, and have beautiful voices. We are always holding musical events in the home, loved by the residents, and you can see the joy that singing along brings to everyone. 

I’ve been around music now for more or less 40 years as a guitar player, but my earliest memories are of hearing my Mum sing to a radio in the kitchen when I was very tiny, and some of those songs that she liked are my favourites today. 

I think music can take us to a time or a place, to a forgotten memory, to an emotion we felt at the time, to a person we may have lost. I associate a piece of music to a memory and think of that memory every time I hear it, which is what I think people living with dementia must do also. 

I believe that music and music therapy is so important to the people we care for. It is how we can connect when all other connections are lost. 

If you want to come and visit Avon Court and sing along at our music sessions, or just come and have a look around and join the team in a sing-song, please get in touch with us at Avonbourne Care Centre - you may get the chance to sing a song you yourself had long forgotten!

Until next time, 

Les