THE PROJECTS
M.U.S.I.C. Project and Music & Memory
We are honored to be helping the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) with their Music & Memory pilot program in Texas!
The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services launched its Music & Memory Pilot Program on May 27, 2015. 32 facilities are participating, including one in San Antonio and two in the surrounding area.
M.U.S.I.C. Project not only offers hands-on help for these pilot facilities, but we are also helping additional facilities in San Antonio to become certified.
Music & Memory harnesses the power of music to improve the lives of residents with advanced dementia. Dan Cohen, who founded Music & Memory, believes that musical favorites tap “deep memories not lost to dementia and can bring residents and clients back to life, enabling them to feel like themselves again – to converse, socialize and stay present.”
THE HARD TRUTH
90% OF RESIDENTS' TIME NOT SPENT ON ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING ARE SPENT IDLE.
50% OF RESIDENTS NEVER HAVE A VISITOR
Music from our youth is deeply embedded in our neural networks and are tied to emotions.
In a 1993 study, 45 residents with dementia were given a Mini-Mental exam. After therapy for 10 weeks, 3 times a week, the exams improved
by 50%.
Studies prove that music has a direct effect on people: it lowers blood pressure, helps with pain management, reduces stress, alters moods, and can provide patients with Parkinson's help with movement.
MUSIC Project and Pre-K 4 SA
M.U.S.I.C. Project has provided monthly music performances for the
Pre-K 4 SA centers in San Antonio since its foundation in 2013. Starting at the North and South centers, we now have volunteers in all four locations. We offer an early exposal to music and the interest of playing an instrument in the future. MP is the only music-based organization currently partnered with Pre-K 4 SA.
THE HARD TRUTH
95% OF AMERICANS BELIEVE MUSIC IS A KEY COMPONENT IN A CHILD'S WELL-ROUNDED EDUCATION
40% OF SCHOOLS DO NOT REQUIRE COURSEWORK IN ARTS FOR GRADUATION
Early music training dramatically enhances children's abstract-reasoning skills.
Music engages the areas of the brain which are involved with paying attention, making predictions and updating events in our memory.
"It was very rewarding to share a fun, musical morning with so many awesome young people and their teachers at Pre-K for SA via The M.U.S.I.C. Project. Quality music programing for children is vital and many schools don't have it in the budget these days. With a relatively small investment on my part, just a couple mornings of my time, we brought a fun and educational music program to eager
pre-schoolers. The smiles and songs carried over into the classroom and I left feeling like I'd made a meaningful impact. Thanks to the M.U.S.I.C. Project for inviting me to be a part of this!" - Bekah Kelso