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These Intergenerational Music Sessions Are Transforming Lives

Mind&Melody brings professional musicians to elders with dementia, youth with neurological impairments, and family members for connection and joy

By Sarah McKinney Gibson | Oct 15, 2024

We’re partnering with The Eisner Foundation on a new program called Music Across Generations, which explores and celebrates how music brings generations together to bridge divides, create connection, and strengthen communities. 

This Q&A series shines a light on nonprofits across the country that are bringing generations together through music. Orianna Gutierrez is the program director of Mind&Melody, a nonprofit that has delivered over 13,000 music sessions that have improved the lives of thousands of people living in Florida, New York and New Mexico. 

Tell us about your program. 

When we first began, Mind&Melody was focused on bringing interactive music programs to older adults with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. These diseases affect memory, daily living activities, and how individuals see the world around them. This often results in anxiety, agitation, social isolation and loneliness. Music serves as a lightbulb switch in the brain and helps to connect the participants with themselves and the world around them. 

We’ve since expanded our programming to include young people with neurological impairments as well as the caregivers and family members of the people we serve. I grew up with a brother who is on the autism spectrum, so I know how important it is for caregivers and families to share in these transformative music experiences. 

How did you get involved? 

I majored in classical music, but my love was always musical theater. In early 2021, a friend of mine who was working as a musician for Mind&Melody mentioned that they were looking for a program assistant. I applied and started there, and the mission immediately resonated with me. My grandfather had passed away from Alzheimer’s a few months before I joined the team. Now I’m a director and manage the team that manages the musicians. 

I wasn’t really expecting my life to take this route but I’m very grateful that it did. It’s opened my eyes to all the ways music can be used beyond performing. I still play gigs, but not as much as I used to. Musician hussle culture is crazy and can be very toxic. That’s also one of the reasons why we pay our musicians and respect their boundaries. 

How does the program work? 

The majority of participants are at assisted living facilities – long-term care and memory care. The programs for young adults and children typically happen at recreation centers or afterschool programs. Since 2014, we’ve delivered over 13,306 interactive music sessions in 36 cities throughout Florida, New Mexico and New York. 

Right now we’re working with 33 professional musicians and we book them based on their availability, location and how far they’re willing to drive. We’re flexible. They gain a lot from the sessions, too, as it creates a sense of purpose for their music, helps them build new friendships, and allows them to feel a sense of family where it may have been lost.

What role do different generations play?

During the sessions with older adults, musicians and participants spend one hour singing songs from the 30s to the 70s, playing instruments like maracas and drums, and engaging in musical activities like “name that tune,” rhythm exercises, moving and dancing. 

Most of the musicians we work with are in their twenties, and it’s incredible to see how their participation and contribution transforms them and opens up their perspective. It creates more awareness, empathy and kindness.

While the music sparks memories for dementia participants, it’s the eye contact, light hand touch, smiles and laughter that show that these two generations are connecting. Participants’ eyes light up, letting us know that they’re present, and they engage the musicians in meaningful conversations that serve as the foundation for the intergenerational relationships being built.

Why did you decide to focus on music?

Music triggers the parts in the brain that are like untouched pockets of memory. We’ve seen so many sessions where we go in and the participant is despondent, and we start playing music from their childhood or music they grew up with and they start singing every word. It’s incredible and is still being studied because nobody totally understands why this is. 

Can you tell us a story about an older and younger who came together in your program? 

Adriana is a musician and Judith is an older adult participant. When Adriana initially approached Judith, she was upset and confused. She kept saying that she didn’t know why Adriana was there, that she didn’t want her to be there or hear any music. But Adriana didn’t quit on her. She remembered other participants she’d worked with who were similar to Judith, and she was determined for Judith to reap the benefits music has to offer. 

In every session, Adriana kept showing Judith that she really cared about her and always tried to get her connected through love and music. It took a few months, but now whenever Adriana arrives at Regents Park for the session, Judith is the first to greet her with a big smile. 

Sometimes when Adriana asks Judith how she feels before the sessions she still says she feels bad or terrible at the beginning, but after the session, Judith always says she feels good or even amazing! Adriana sees how much Judith enjoys the sessions, singing along, playing the instruments, and sometimes she even closes her eyes and begins to sway with the music. Moments like this bring Adriana so much gratitude, being able to bring so much joy and happiness to those who need it most through the powerful medium of music.

What is your dream for this work? 

I’d like Mind&Melody to be a nationwide or even a worldwide program, bringing music in an interactive way to populations that are often isolated or forgotten. 

How can people get involved with your work?

They can visit our website or contact us at [email protected] if they want to participate as a musician or if they want to bring the program to someone they love. They can also connect with us on social media. We’re on most platforms. 

What advice would you give someone who wants more intergenerational connection in their community? 

Any sort of artistic expression is such a special way to bring people together and bridge difference. I would say to start by joining a group that you want to know more about and approach it from a place of artistic expression – dancing, movement of any sort, teaching, playing instruments. Find a way to enter a flow state in a communal way because doing that releases chemicals in your brain that create a feeling of contentment. 

What’s your dream older/younger musical performance? 

I have to say Tony Bennet and Lady Gaga. To experience them singing together live would have been incredible. I’ve seen a recording of them where Tony didn’t recognize Lady Gaga before the show and then during their performance together he says “Lady Gaga!” and she starts crying. It shows you how powerful music is.