For Seniors: Instrument Activities That Get Bodies Moving—Spread Smiles Through Music Therapy
Recreation using musical instruments creates lively, joyful moments that lift both mind and body.
This time, we’re introducing instrument-based activity ideas that older adults can enjoy with a smile.
From experiencing the sense of achievement of harmonizing with handbells to moving the body while keeping rhythm with castanets, these ideas are full of ways to stimulate the five senses.
If special instruments aren’t available, you can make maracas with plastic bottles or treat everyday items as instruments—the right creativity makes instrument-based activities feel close at hand.
Please make use of these ideas to create a pleasant space for connection through music!
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[For Seniors] Instrument activities that make your body move before you know it. Spread the circle of smiles with music therapy (1–10)
Soran-bushi Shamisen ExerciseNEW!
Let’s try a loosening exercise to the rhythm of Soran Bushi played on the shamisen.
First, place your hands on your shoulders and rotate your shoulder blades.
Then bring your palms together and raise them overhead, flip your palms, and bend your arms to lower your hands down beside your head.
Next, draw your elbows together in front of your body, opening and closing them.
Do these movements to the music to relax stiff shoulders and back.
Moving with the music makes it more enjoyable.
Piano performanceNEW!
Moving your fingers stimulates brain activity and is also effective in preventing dementia.
The piano lets you move your fingertips thoroughly, and because you can produce beautiful tones, it also helps relax both body and mind.
The piano generally has the left hand keep the rhythm and the right hand play the melody, which can make it seem difficult, but there are plenty of easy practice pieces.
Start by practicing with one hand at a time.
It can also be fun to split rhythm and melody and play a duet with two people.
Naruko Soran GymnasticsNEW!
An instrument-based activity that can also help build strength is the “Naruko Soran Exercise.” This exercise is done while sitting in a chair, keeping rhythm with naruko clappers.
As you click the naruko, move your arms according to the choreography.
Enjoy stretching your arms straight forward and slowly swinging them from side to side.
At the end, you’ll add some marching with your feet for a full-body workout, so you might break a light sweat by the time you’re done.
Naruko can sometimes be found at 100-yen shops, but you can also make them from recycled materials.
[For Seniors] Instrument Activities That Make You Move Unintentionally. Spread Smiles Through Music Therapy (11–20)
Rhythmic gymnastics with balls and castanetsNEW!
Let’s enjoy rhythmic exercises by stomping your feet to the beat and moving a ball up and down.
Because you move your body while engaging the senses—like hearing and sight—it’s also perfect for brain training.
If you’re doing it with a large group, you can vary the colors of the balls participants hold and have them exercise in turn to cues like “blue ball” or “pink ball.” Like a dance event at a sports day, it can create a sense of unity and make it more fun than simply doing exercises.
It might also be nice to have the older adults themselves keep the rhythm with castanets.
Guess the Instrument Sound QuizNEW!
We present a quiz where you listen to 16 instruments and guess their names.
The instruments selected are ones that everyone has probably seen or heard at least once, and as hints, photos and names of the instruments are also shown, so the difficulty level is fairly low.
However, the last question is a hint-free secret! For that one, judge based on sound alone.
You won’t get it unless you listen carefully, so prick up your ears and think about the correct answer.
If you get 11 or more correct, you’ll be awarded the title of Genius Musician, so why not aim for that and give it a try?
concertNEW!
@magonote_hanazono Senior care facility recreationRecreationConcertOsaka
♬ Original Song – Magonote Hanazono, Medical Seed Co., Ltd. – Zenkouen Hanazono
Why not try holding a concert at a nursing care facility? Actual research has shown that continuing to play musical instruments has positive effects on older adults’ cognitive and brain functions.
There are many kinds of instruments, so you can choose one that suits you and enjoy it as a lifelong hobby.
To improve, you need to practice a little every day, but if you only practice, you might get bored along the way.
That’s why we recommend organizing regular concerts and setting a goal to perform.
It will energize your practice, and you’ll also enjoy communicating with fellow music enthusiasts.
Music Therapy Handbell Concert
Let me introduce music therapy using handbells.
In handbell ensembles, each person is responsible for specific notes on the scale, which actually requires a lot of concentration.
Even with familiar children’s songs, you need to remember exactly when to play your note.
The timing is important, and you also have to adjust the volume with your arm movements.
Because this sends a lot of stimulation to the brain, it can be expected to have brain-training effects.
In addition, since it is often done in groups, it naturally fosters interaction among participants, and the sense of accomplishment when it all comes together is exceptional.
