Thomas Drummond, a recent graduate from Ridge View's Scholars Academy Magnet for Business and Law, worked on his Senior Capstone Research Project over the last year on how music affects the elderly. He focused on the music from the 1940's era, which is known as swing or big band music. To test this question, Drummond attended a big band concert and spoke to people in the audience, had some fill out a questionnaire that he designed as well as making his own observations. His findings concluded that the music made them feel younger and had an affect on their memory. Multiple responses were provided by people saying how the music reminded them of people that they were close to when they were younger. For one reason or another, they are separated from these people now, and this music is how they still connect with them. It was also observed that many people danced throughout the concert. Keep in mind that most of these people are 70 plus. Drummond found it amazing that they still remembered dance steps from decades ago. There was even a man that was in a walker assisted wheelchair that got up and danced with his wife. There were also people that were tapping their feet and bobbing their heads. This shows how much of an emotional and physical affect that music can have on a person. This music specifically reminds them of a culture that they do not get exposed to often anymore, and shows the need for more availability of this genre of music for this age group.
Thomas Drummond, a recent graduate from Ridge View's Scholars Academy Magnet for Business and Law, worked on his Senior Capstone Research Project over the last year on how music affects the elderly. He focused on the music from the 1940's era, which is known as swing or big band music. To test this question, Drummond attended a big band concert and spoke to people in the audience, had some fill out a questionnaire that he designed as well as making his own observations. His findings concluded that the music made them feel younger and had an affect on their memory. Multiple responses were provided by people saying how the music reminded them of people that they were close to when they were younger. For one reason or another, they are separated from these people now, and this music is how they still connect with them. It was also observed that many people danced throughout the concert. Keep in mind that most of these people are 70 plus. Drummond found it amazing that they still remembered dance steps from decades ago. There was even a man that was in a walker assisted wheelchair that got up and danced with his wife. There were also people that were tapping their feet and bobbing their heads. This shows how much of an emotional and physical affect that music can have on a person. This music specifically reminds them of a culture that they do not get exposed to often anymore, and shows the need for more availability of this genre of music for this age group.
