Moments of resonance in musical improvisation with persons with severe dementia. An interpretative phenomenological study

In this book, Anke Coomans presents her doctoral study on music therapy and dementia. The study will be of interest to music therapists, psychotherapists, and other professionals working in the field of dementia, or to music therapists that use musical improvisation with clinical populations that benefit from a non-verbal approach. The findings of the study provide insights in the role of musical improvisation for the occurrence of moments of resonance in music therapy with persons with severe dementia. The reader is led through the characteristics of musical improvisation and the specifics of therapeutic listening attitudes from the perspectives of a person-centred approach towards dementia. The study illustrates how music therapy can offer a privileged opportunity to meet persons with dementia not as a ‘de-menting’ person, but on a musical and affective level where the neurocognitive deterioration is less in the foreground.

This book may encourage music therapists to take an introspective look at their therapeutic listening attitude and to consider listening play as important for facilitating moments of resonance in music therapy with persons with severe dementia. The terminology presented in this phenomenological study may contribute to the theoretical development of music therapy practice in dementia care.