Improvisation and Reciprocal Design: Soundplay for Dementia

Abstract

Research and practice is ongoing in to the affective impact of music of people living with advanced dementia and the relationship to positive wellbeing. Projects have primarily employed familiarity as a means to encourage engagement, such as using familiar tunes, songs, or instruments. This project explored the response of people living with advanced dementia to an innovative gestural electronic instrument, The Airsticks TM. The engagement promoted creative musical improvisation and resulted in an highly emotive response from one particular participant and revealing the ongoing existence of a creative impulse.

The use of technology for arts-based activities in older adults living with mild cognitive impairment or dementia: A scoping review

“…Three additional studies included music among other activities. Technology was designed for music listening ( n = 16) (Bennett et al, 2016; Cruz-Sandoval et al, 2018; Cunningham et al, 2019; De Kok et al, 2018; Hodge et al, 2018; Houben, Brankaert, et al, 2020; Hsu et al, 2019; Kwak et al, 2020; Lancioni et al, 2014; Lancioni et al, 2015; Murphy et al, 2018; Nayer et al, 2014; Orpwood et al, 2010; Peeters et al, 2016; Seymour et al, 2017; Thoolen et al, 2019), interactive music listening involving the participant’s active movement ( n = 2) (Morrissey et al, 2016; Rosseland & Culén, 2016) and music making ( n = 9) (Benveniste et al, 2012; Boulay et al, 2011; Cheng et al, 2019; Cheng & Lee, 2018; Favilla & Pedell, 2013, 2014; Han et al, 2020; Houben, Lehn, et al, 2020; Kenning et al, 2019). Music-making included versions of familiar instruments such as the keyboard/percussion, or new instruments manipulating sounds.…”

“…They include: intervention feasibility, behavioural and psychological symptoms (BPSD), quality of life (QoL), and participants’ interactions with their environment. First, more than half of the papers in this review recorded findings on the feasibility of their intervention ( n = 36) (Abrahão et al, 2018; Bennett et al, 2016; Capstick, 2011; Capstick & Ludwin, 2015; Cheng & Lee, 2018; Cruz-Sandoval et al, 2018; Czech et al, 2020; De Kok et al, 2018; Favilla & Pedell, 2013, 2014; Golden et al, 2017; Gu et al, 2013; Hodge et al, 2018; Houben, Brankaert, et al, 2020; Houben, Lehn, et al, 2020; Hsu et al, 2019; Iacono & Marti, 2016; Jamin et al, 2018; Kenning et al, 2019; Lancioni et al, 2017; Lazar et al, 2017a, 2017b; Leuty et al, 2013; Luyten et al, 2018; Manca et al, 2021; Morrissey et al, 2016; Murphy et al, 2018; Nayer et al, 2014; Orpwood et al, 2010; Peeters et al, 2016; Rosseland & Culén, 2016; Seymour et al, 2017; Thoolen et al, 2019; Treadaway et al, 2019; Treadaway & Kenning, 2015, 2016; Tyack et al, 2017). This was largely reported as whether the activity/device had been successful/unsuccessful, although certain papers reported the iterative steps taken (in terms of pointers for design) to achieve success.…”

Inclusive Improvisation: Exploring the Line between Listening and Playing Music

“…These are documented in several practiced-based research Inclusive Improvisation: Exploring the Line between Listening and Playing Music 9:5 publications [43][44][45][46][47][48]. The creative and explorative nature of the development of the AirSticks 1.0 has led to many diverse research projects including working with people living with cognitive and physical disabilities [51].…”

Turnaround: Exploring Care Relations in Dementia Through Design

“…For instance, auditory and tactile stimulation is already widely being used for their effect on evoking emotions by the recollection of memories [6] or stimulating social connection in a care setting [7]. In music sessions, the use of props and instruments enable people with dementia to feel like a performer instead of a 'patient' [14] as engaging with sound can stimulate creativity and improvisation [8]. Through these acts of creativity, people with dementia can express themselves without being limited by physical and cognitive deficits.…”