by annette pinder
Music Therapist Renee Bapst (standing) directs members of the Harris Hill Harmonizers during their annual Christmas Cantata.
Gabby Giffords recently appeared on the Today Show to commemorate the fateful event that forever changed the trajectory of her life –and took the lives of six others. She rang a bell to honor those who died at the hands of a psychopath who should have never had access to a gun, but also chose to celebrate her own bravery as she struggles to recover by skydiving with her husband as the world watched.
Although she understands everything around her Gabby struggles with self-expression. The words she understands won’t come out easily and remain locked inside her brain. Yet, when Gabby is asked to sing, something she has always enjoyed, the words simply flow as she belts out one of my favorites – “The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow.” But Gabby isn’t an anomaly. Recently we watched a contestant on American Idol barely able to complete a sentence without stuttering, sing flawlessly. How is this possible?
It turns out that speech and music make use of different parts of the brain. And research shows that even when speech, cognition or memory is impaired, involvement in music through singing, playing, dancing or other forms is still possible. That’s why Renee Bapst, a board certified music therapist at The McGuire Group’s Harris Hill Nursing Facility memory care unit, leads a group called the Harris Hill Harmonizers. The group takes part in music therapy programs designed to stimulate a variety of areas in the brain and create positive outcomes for the residents.
By participating in the Harris Hill Harmonizers, residents are able to express themselves in a safe, structured environment even when speech has become difficult. “Music therapy in a nursing home setting is unique, and I’m thrilled to be able to share its benefits with the residents at Harris Hill,” Bapst stated. “This experience allows them to work toward a goal and receive immediate positive feedback.”
Likewise, The McGuire Group’s Northgate Health Care Facility in North Tonawanda also offers music therapy for its residents under the direction of board certified music therapist Terri Kasprzak. “The voice is a direct expression of the self, the most personal of all instruments,” Kasprzak explains. “Ultimately, the performance reinforces messages of competence, personal value and belonging. It’s the effort that is important, not the musical ability.”
To learn more about The McGuire Group facilities and programs, visit www.mcguiregroup.com or www.musictherapy.org. Harris Hill Nursing Facility is located at 2699 Wehrle Drive in Williamsville and Northgate Health Care Facility is located at 7264 Nash Road in North Tonawanda.
