[For older adults] Music recreation that helps boost mood and improve health
We’d like to introduce music-based recreational activities that can lift the spirits of older adults.
Listening to favorite songs or singing out loud can provide a change of pace and help relieve stress.
In this article, we present a variety of recreational ideas that use the music we encounter in everyday life.
Along with sing-alongs of children’s songs and simple exercises set to music, we’ve also gathered quiz-style activities that are fun like games.
If you’re planning music recreation for a senior facility or day service setting, please use these ideas as a reference.
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- [Today's Recommendation] Gentle Health Exercises for Seniors
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- [November Health Topic] Indoor Recreation Ideas for Older Adults
[For Seniors] Music Recreation Activities That Help Improve Mood and Health (11–20)
Acrostic Song: “The Hare and the Tortoise”
Let’s enjoy “letter-omission songs,” where you sing while skipping a specific character.
Following the lyrics and thinking as you sing also makes for good brain training.
If you’re thinking, “That’s easy!” try adding a rule like skipping two characters instead.
Even a simple nursery rhyme becomes more challenging and exciting.
Scarf Stretch: ‘I Found a Little Autumn’
“Scarf Stretch” is an upper-body exercise you can do while seated.
The song “Chiisai Aki Mitsuketa” has a relaxed tempo, making it perfect for stretching while rotating your neck and taking deep breaths.
Start by loosening the neck and shoulders, then hold the scarf taut to relax the entire upper body.
antiphonal singing
Antiphonal singing is a method of singing where two songs are used and sung alternately, one phrase at a time.
Because you link songs with different lyrics and rhythms, the voices don’t always line up, but even if you mess up, it’s a fun activity everyone can laugh about together! Children’s songs like “The Hare and the Tortoise” and “Urashima Taro” are recommended because they often have a relaxed tempo.
Finger play ‘Donguri Korokoro’
“Finger exercises” help practice fingertip movements, and moving them while singing keeps your mind flexible.
To the tune of “Donguri Korokoro,” fold your fingers one by one starting from the thumb while counting “1, 2, 3…” and finally open your hand wide.
Once you get used to it, try changing the speed to increase the difficulty and challenge yourself.
Nursery Rhyme Karuta
How about enjoying “Nursery Rhyme Karuta,” where the reading cards and grabbing cards are based on nursery rhyme lyrics? Instead of reading the cards aloud, they’re sung, since they’re nursery rhymes.
Grab the matching card and picture card for the song that’s sung.
Even if you don’t remember the traditional karuta readings, many people probably remember nursery rhymes, right? It’s great brain exercise, too.
Intro Quiz
The “intro quiz” you often see on Japanese variety shows is a game where the beginning of a song—the intro—plays, and contestants buzz in to name the song as fast as they can.
Preparing lots of song intros can be tough, but these days there are plenty of videos compiling intros by decade.
[For Seniors] Music Recreation Activities That Help Improve Mood and Health (21–30)
Karaoke Contest
Let’s blow off some stress and get everyone fired up with a karaoke party! Each person can sing their favorite songs while the rest of us listen, throw in call-and-response chants, and keep the energy high—guaranteed fun! We might even end up fighting over who gets to sing which song.
Tambourines, maracas, and other noisemakers will make it even more exciting.