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Unit 5: Creative Ageing - Opportunities and Outlook

4.0 The Power of Music in Language Learning

You have already heard that music is a powerful ‘tool’ when working with senior learners and people with dementia. There are many instances when this fact has even made it into the news. In this activity you will work your way through four steps that introduce you to ways in which music can be used when working with people with degenerative brain diseases. Throughout this activity, make notes in your learning diary about aspects you are taking away to apply in your own care setting.


Step A

1. Read this inspiring article about Teddy Mac, the Songaminute man and watch Teddy in action with his son in the video "Quando Quando Qando | The Songaminute Man | Carpool Karaoke". (If you would like to watch this video with closed captions, please switch these on in the YouTube player by selecting this icon icon: box with lines)

2. Now find out why music is such an effective means to engage people with Dementia in this article by Catherine Loveday: 'Why singing may help people with dementia', from the University of Westminster in The Conversation. 

What do you think is the central message about the power of music in this article?

Compare your notes with our model answer.

Step B

In the UK, there are a number of initiatives that focus on using music to support people with dementia. We have selected two examples for you, which you might feel inspired by. Follow the links to the initiatives below and take some notes on activities you come across there which you might want to replicate in your own setting. 

  1. The Memory Spinners group at Scottish Opera and specifically the section on spinning songs, an inter-generational project

  2. Community Champion Sabrina Findlay and her music therapy for people with Dementia: Pride of Reading: Vocal coach helps improve lives of dementia sufferers and mental health patients


Step C

And finally, think again about using music in your own care setting and how you can link music and languages to provide engaging communal learning experiences. 

1. First of all, read some important advice on music and dementia by Dementia.uk and take a note in your learning diary of at least three central pieces of advice you are going to apply when using music in your care settings.

2. Now think about linking music with language learning. The Fluent in 3 Months website provides excellent advice on how to use music effectively in language learning in their article ‘Learning Language through Music’. Again, take notes of key points in your learning diary.

3. Finally, think about your own setting, for example the famous songs in the language you are learning with your senior learners or melodies from the culture you are teaching. Then plan how you could incorporate this in a language learning activity. Then compare your idea with ours in the model answer.