Listening to music has important reported benefits for health, not only related to anxiety or stress, but also in areas of cognitive and motor rehabilitation. This has been reported in numerous studies and in two systematically reviewed scientific articles published by the research group from the Institute of Health Research of Santiago de Compostela, within the framework of their Sensogenomics project (GenPoB/GenViP). Particularly in cases of dementia and Alzheimer’s, music has been shown to activate pathways related to memory and musical abilities have even been preserved. Contrasting evidence also exists about the ability of music to impact on brain anatomy as part of a wider process known as neuroplasticity. This process is of enormous importance to the framework of the treatment of patients with psychomotricity problems, cerebral palsy, etc. It is for all of these reasons that this project plants music firmly in the sphere of health and social intervention for development and wellbeing.
The first workshop of the musical programme “Active music listening” allows quality musical enjoyment, with audio equipment at optimal standards. The catalogue will show the cultural richness of the history of music, including classical music, traditional music, pop and world music, generating motivation and surprise. Likewise, “Music of their life” has been researched, to include in the listening sessions as a way to activate feelings and memories. Listening will be contextualised by the lives of the composers, the stories that surround them and the historical-cultural context. A stimulating, active listening, adapted to the diversity of the groups, in which they can experiment with the body and movement, the sense of touch is activated by objects and there is instrumental accompaniment. The musicians who run the sessions have created various playlists that have been the “non-pharmaceutical therapy” of the listening workshops. Why not give them a listen?
Given by: Alejandro Vargas, Tomás Rábano, Beatriz Rola, Ana Conceição.