In the summer of 2019, Bill was inspired by a youtube video he had watched of a senior listening to music through a pair of headphones. Immediately, the senior's eyes had lit up and he began nodding his head, smiling, moving to the beat of the music. The impact of music was evident and profound. And when the video had ended, Bill had thought of a way to improve the quality of life for senior citizens with music, and Music4Memories was born. 

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By providing devices with a personalized music playlists of patients' most beloved songs and artists and providing live performances, students in this project aim to combine the power of music and technology to alleviate the lack of emotional connection patients so often exhibit in their day to day lives. Additionally, as more and more people switch their music collections from iPods to smartphones, there’s a growing supply of second-hand iPods, MP3 players, and portable music players. Music4Memories hopes to collect and make use of these devices and put them into the hands of elders who can really benefit from personalized playlists. 

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Please mail to: 92 Stillwell Road, Holmdel, NJ USA

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LOGISTICAL QUESTIONS:

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1. Why music?

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2. What's the science behind it?​

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Our brains are hard-wired to connect music with long-term memory. The parts of the brain that respond to music, are very close to the parts of the brain associated with memory, emotion, and mood. Even for people with severe dementia and Alzheimer's, music can tap deep emotional recall. Favorite songs associated with important personal events can trigger not only the memory of those lyrics but also the emotional feelings connected to the music. Through listening to the music they love, a previously unresponsive or agitated person can feel calmer. Personalized music has been shown to increase cooperation and attention, reduce agitation as well as enhancing, engaging, and fostering a calmer social environment. 

Research is confirming the way that music, especially familiar songs, seems to stimulate regions of memory and emotion that may otherwise be completely inaccessible to people with Alzheimer's.

Check out the video that inspired Music4Memories!