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In the moment with music

An exploration of the embodied and sensory experiences of people living with dementia during improvised music-making

Bibliographic Data

ID11201607
AuthorsRobyn Dowlen (0000-0003-2982-7039, University of Leeds, corresponding author), John Keady (0000-0001-8243-6913, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust), Christine Milligan (0000-0002-8675-7244, Lancaster University), Caroline Swarbrick (0000-0001-7364-8869, Lancaster University), Nick Ponsillo (0000-0003-1030-8028, University of Chester), Lucy Geddes, Bob Riley
Year2022
Volume42
Issue11
Pages2642-2664
Publication date2022-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAgeing and Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0144-686X • E-ISSN: 1469-1779
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0144686x21000210
OpenAlexW3128935798
LanguageEN
Citations received16
References cited34

The term ‘in the moment’ has received growing interest in the context of music programmes for people living with dementia, with music therapists, family carers, health-care professionals and people living with dementia themselves reporting the value of framing musical experiences in the ‘here and now’. Although this term is being used more frequently within the literature, there has yet to be a formal examination of such ‘in the moment’ musical experiences and how they might benefit a person living with dementia. We used a multiple-case study approach to develop a thematic framework of ‘in the moment’ musical experiences within the context of a music-making programme for people living with dementia. The research followed six people living with dementia and four family carers, and used video-observation and video-elicitation interviews to capture and analyse ‘in the moment’ experiences. Four thematic observations were developed which captured ‘in the moment’ musical experiences: Sharing a life story through music , Musical agency ‘in the moment’ , Feeling connected ‘in the moment’ and Musical ripples into everyday life . These findings showcase the creativity and musical abilities of people living with dementia whilst affirming music as a medium to connect people living with dementia with their own life story, other people and the environments in which music-making takes place

Aesthetics · Art · Context (archaeology) · Dementia · Embodied cognition · Epistemology · Feeling · Musical · Qualitative research · Sociology · Thematic analysis · Visual arts · Creativity in Education and Neuroscience · History · Medicine · Music Therapy and Health · Neuroscience and Music Perception · Psychology · Social Psychology

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  • Digital creative expression programmes for people living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment in the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond

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Unique citing works16
Citations per year3,2
Citation span2021 - 2026 (6)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 16
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