With upbeat rhythm routines! Music therapy for seniors
When you listen to nostalgic songs, you find yourself humming along, keeping the rhythm, and moving your body naturally.
They may also bring back memories and spark lively conversations.
This time, we’ve gathered music activities that are fun and engaging.
At events, playing the melody on a piano or keyboard is recommended, as you can match the seniors’ singing and movements.
Adding accompaniment makes it even more exciting.
Let’s use our big voices to make it a joyful gathering!
- [For Seniors] Recommended Rhythm Play and Exercises
- [For older adults] Music recreation that helps boost mood and improve health
- [For Seniors] Recommended for Recreation! A Collection of Fun and Lively Parody Songs
- [For Seniors] Recommended Songs for Care Activities and Events! Crowd-Pleasers That Bring Joy
- [Brain Training for Seniors] Recommended Hand-Play Recreation for Dementia Prevention
- [For Seniors] Recommended Songs for Music Therapy Tailored to Physical and Mental Conditions
- For Seniors: Fun and Lively Exercise Recreation
- Hand games that liven things up for seniors—also great brain training
- [For Seniors] Simple Rhythm Exercises: Recommended Songs and Routines
- March nursery rhymes & hand play songs! Spring songs you can enjoy with your kids
- [For Seniors] Popular Hand-Play Songs: Fun Brain-Training Ideas
- Recommended Songs for Nursing Home Recreation [Fun Exercise, Soothing Songs]
- For Seniors: Effective Recreation for Preventing Care Needs—Have Fun While Staying Healthy
With lively rhythm skits! Music therapy for seniors (1–10)
Intro Quiz
An intro quiz is a game where you listen to the opening part of a song and guess the answer.
It helps you recall past memories.
Tracing memories of songs you’ve heard from just the opening can stimulate and activate the brain.
The key is to select songs that many older adults are familiar with.
If it’s a song they know, they can enjoy participating in the quiz.
It’s also recommended to have everyone sing the correct song together or do hand motions to the music.
Singing involves opening the mouth wide, which can help prevent aspiration, and it’s also expected to be effective for brain training and stress relief.
Challenge in antiphonal singing
Alternating singing sounds fun! Since you switch the lyrics as you sing, it really makes you use your brain.
A new rhythm seems like it could activate the mind.
It might be challenging for older adults, but memorizing lyrics and enjoying the changes in rhythm can be great stimulation.
Singing also refreshes the heart, so it’s killing two birds with one stone.
When everyone sings together, it’ll likely spark more conversation, too.
Adding accompaniment on piano or keyboard would make it even more exciting.
Let’s raise our voices and have a great time!
Finger exercises with kayōkyoku (Japanese pop songs)
Let us introduce finger exercises that you can enjoy together with older adults using popular Japanese songs! Moving your fingers slowly to the rhythm helps exercise your hands and fingers.
You can have fun with various movements, such as letting your fingers dangle loosely or opening and closing your hands.
If you start with songs that have a relaxed tempo, everyone can enjoy it together.
Once you get used to it, try songs with a slightly faster tempo.
Moving your fingers while singing naturally brings smiles.
It may spark conversations as people reminisce about the past.
Spending time moving your body to music is a wonderful way to refresh both mind and body!
With an Exciting Rhythm Routine! Music Therapy for Seniors (11–20)
Funny parody song
As an idea that everyone can get excited about while laughing together, let me suggest funny parody songs.
This involves taking songs that everyone knows and singing them with new, spoofed lyrics.
You can enjoy the charm of group singing—raising your voices together and feeling a sense of unity—while also savoring the humor of unique parody lyrics.
The further the new words stray from the original lyrics, the more impact it tends to have.
You can set a theme and fit words to the melody, or take inspiration from sources like YouTube.
Rhythmic exercises with pop songs
Doing rhythmic exercises to kayōkyoku is so much fun! When I listen to nostalgic songs like “Aoi Sanmyaku,” I find myself humming along without even thinking.
Adding hand claps and foot stomps makes it even more enjoyable.
With cheerful lyrics and melodies, it feels like both your mind and body get a boost.
If seniors join in singing and dancing, it will turn into a time full of smiles.
Moving your body to the rhythm also helps alleviate a lack of exercise.
When everyone raises their voices and sings together, the conversation will flow more easily, too.
And with piano or keyboard accompaniment, it’s sure to get even livelier.
Song to sing at the end of the gathering
We’d like to introduce an exercise routine to do at the end of events and recreational activities.
By doing the same exercise to the same song each time, participants can recognize that “the session has ended.” If you choose a song that is familiar to older adults, it will likely be easier for them to join in.
It’s said that exercising while singing can have brain-training benefits.
Performing simultaneous movements is also expected to activate the brain efficiently.
You might consider adding playful variations to the routine to create fun, laughter-filled movements.
Be sure to select songs that older adults are familiar with.
Listening to requested songs
Listening to requests for nostalgic songs makes for such a fun time.
When you hear a piano’s tone play a song that resonates in your heart, you can’t help but hum along.
Old memories come back, and it feels like everyone could get excited together.
Moving your body to the lyrics is great, too.
The rhythm might make you move without even thinking.
Listening to your favorite songs brings a smile to your face.
It sounds fun to take turns making requests and discover new favorites together.
Through music, it seems like we can share a truly pleasant moment.