Music and its efficacy in caring for and with those with Alzheimer’s disease has been much in the news these last few months.  But those of us who are not musicians are often hesitant to use music as a way to engage with and care for those with memory and cognitive deficits. 

That's why we've invited Judith-Kate Friedman, founder of Songwriting Works™ to do this workshop for us.  Judith-Kate has been honing her skills in this arena for many years and has received many awards for her pioneering work.  We invite you to join us for a day in which she shares with us her passion for music and creativity and offers time-honored and innovative techniques for using music to increase interactivity, social engagement, shared meaning and relationship building using research validated approaches.  The techniques and tools that she teaches us will give us ways to enhance vitality, creativity and dignity in partnership with the ones we serve. 

At the end of the day we will have new ways of using music for own creativity and for the well-being of our loved ones/clients.  We will learn to apply Songwriting Works™ “8 Principles of Creative Engagement” and explore the implications and inspirations of research which demonstrates the important role music can play in brain health and in increasing resilience and joy in daily life. We will leave with practical techniques and tools for building friendships and relationships through song by using melody, narrative, rhythm, rhyme and movement to enhance communication across generations and cognitive differences.  We will be challenged to become empowered ‘musical instigators’ who bring the ‘medicine of music’ to those who need it the most.