The Harmonies for Healing Initiative aims to bring together students to share the joy that comes from playing live music with seniors in our community. Grounded in research that demonstrates the positive effects of musical interventions on both mental and physical health, this initiative seeks to create meaningful opportunities for engagement and improvement for the elderly.

This initiative is inspired by a study that observed the impact of musical intervention on the social behaviours of elderly patients with dementia. With dementia serving as an umbrella term for symptoms of neurological disorders, it’s important to recognize cognitive decline as a hallmark feature that significantly impairs functions like memory and emotion. Furthermore, the challenges of witnessing loved ones undergoing such changes can feel quite stressful on the part of caregivers, which is an aspect that is often overlooked, but is also integral. Therefore, this research offers crucial insight into how musical intervention can help maintain, if not improve the social connections for those experiencing cognitive decline, including with loved ones and caregivers.

The Harmonies for Healing Initiative uses this knowledge as a foundational basis in its objective to connect the UTSC student and alumni community with opportunities to actively engage in creating positive, music-based experiences for the elderly. While the inspiration for this initiative stems from research focused on dementia patients, the program is designed for the elderly in general, recognizing the benefits of musical intervention for improving social engagement and well-being across this broader group. Through this initiative, we aim to support seniors in senior care homes by inviting students to share and extend their joy of performing music with a community that truly deserves much care and love.