My Journey to Creating a Music Therapy Organization for Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care

Back in high school, I joined a music therapy club called Music for a Cause, where every week we visited Alzheimer’s and dementia homes to heal through memory care music therapy. We partnered with residents, sat beside them, listened to music, and sang along. I remember a resident named Jim who was very low-functioning. When we asked him about his day or what he ate, he rarely responded. But once we started singing Elvis Presley’s “I Can’t Help Falling in Love,” his eyes lit up, he squeezed my hand, and began to sing along with tears in his eyes, recalling memories of hearing the song, the people he was with, and the love he shared. These moments showed me the profound impact music therapy has on residents, their families, and us as students.

Inspired by these experiences, I founded Songbird at Wake Forest, an organization dedicated to bringing musical therapy to the Winston-Salem community. With a passionate team of over 20 members, we perform every Sunday in hospitals and resident homes, providing patient-centered care through memory care sessions and door-to-door hospital performances. We also engage in “lobby work,” offering individual and group performances in hospital lobbies to create a soothing and healing environment.

Music therapy combines techniques from music, psychology, and medicine, offering both mental and physical relief. Scientific evidence shows that music can enhance motor and cognitive recovery in stroke patients, reduce depression symptoms in those with dementia, and help surgical patients experience less pain and faster healing. By merging science and music, Songbird not only supports patients but also creates a musical community dedicated to service. This initiative provides students interested in music, medicine, or psychology with invaluable hands-on experience and the opportunity to pursue careers in music therapy.

Through Songbird, we offer a free, clinically proven service that benefits facilities, patients, their families, and our student volunteers. Our work fosters connections within the Winston-Salem community, allowing us to serve through our passion for music and creating a sense of fulfillment and purpose for everyone involved. By honoring my grandfather’s legacy and addressing the complexities of aging and dementia, Songbird embodies my commitment to making a meaningful impact on the lives of those affected by these conditions.