* Is there a piece of music or song that conjures up memories for you? What’s the song, and what does it remind you of?

* Have you ever done something to help your family that ended up putting you in direct conflict with other family members?

* What’s a dream of yours that you’ve never pursued? What’s keeping you from it?

A LIFETIME OF MUSIC
by Anne Reed, The Music Settlement

The music plays. The song starts flowing through your mind. You hear the rhythm and melody and sense the tempo. You become mindful of the instrumentation, the lyrics, and reflect on the message. Your emotions and memory are engaged and your body starts to synchronize with the beat. You become immersed in the sensation. You laugh, you cry, you relax, you get angry; your relationship with music brings both pleasure and pain. You are moved to share a thought, a feeling, a memory. A conversation is sparked and a connection is made. The power of music! A power that touches the lives of all people, all ages, that is shared yet also unique and personal. This holds true for adults diagnosed with dementia and specifically Alzheimer’s disease. At The Music Settlement, we honor the power of healing with music.

Studies in music therapy with older adults with dementia show that the prescribed use of music helps decrease depression and improve mood, decrease anxiety and agitation, and decrease use of medication. It can also increase alertness and orientation, enhance cognition and memory, improve communication and meaningful socialization, improve sleep and appetite, and reduce caregiver stress.* Studies have also shown increased connectivity in specific areas of the brain related to cognitive and motor functions.

Music therapists, when working with individuals with memory loss, are mindful of exactly which music is most constructive. It is recommended to use music that is preferred and is not associated with any traumatic event(s). Music therapy evaluation ensures the listener is able to adequately communicate their needs and preferences. Music Therapists also provide careful monitoring of non-verbal responses to music interventions, and ensure a manageable volume, while decreasing any unnecessary noise or visual stimulation. A professional music therapist holds a bachelor's degree or higher in music therapy from one of over 80 American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) approved college and university programs. According to the AMTA, “Music Therapy is an established health profession in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals.” For caregivers and/or children of individuals diagnosed with dementia, considering events associated with the music, listening to songs together can open doors to increased interaction and reminiscing.

For more information about music therapy in the Greater Cleveland Area, please contact Anne Reed, Clinical Supervisor, areed@themusicsettlement.org in the Center for Music Therapy at The Music Settlement.

*AMTA Fact Sheet on Music & Dementia Care

Interested in finding out more about The Day of the Dead, referenced in American Mariachi? Well, you're in luck because Cleveland hosts one of the biggest Dia de Muertos celebrations in the country - and it's coming up soon! Grab your friends and family members on October 29th and head on over to Gordon Square to check things out! More details at Dia de Muertos Ohio!

Is there a piece of music or song that conjures up memories for you? What’s the song, and what does it remind you of? Do you have any pictures of yourself enjoying this song or piece of music? Share your answer and image with us by posting to your social media and tagging the post with #AmericanMariachiCPH, or by e-mailing us at cjoseph@clevelandplayhouse.com.

Making A Piñata
by Erica Carla Joziuk

Things you will need:
Flour
Water
Salt
Cooking pot
Stirring utensils
Balloon (balloon size depends on how big you want your piñata)
Newspaper
Paintbrush 1 ½ inches
Scissors
Tissue paper/crepe paper
A bowl that is a little smaller than the circumference of your balloon. This bowl will be the stand that holds the balloon as you start to make your piñata.
Patience
Imagination

Let’s begin:
Start the Piñata process by making the glue. This glue holds the paper together and is the most important ingredient.
Pour 4 cups of water into the pot and let it boil, then add 1 cup of flour. You can add a tablespoon of salt, as this will prevent mold. Stir it occasionally after 3-4 minutes. The flour should thicken. Make sure it isn’t lumpy. Let it cool down.

While letting the glue cool down, you can begin the next process by blowing up the balloon and cutting the newspaper into strips. The bigger the strips, the faster it will be. Make sure to have your bowl, for this is your stand and will hold your balloon in place.

Now that your newspaper is cut into strips and the glue has cooled down, its time to start the fun part! It can get messy, so make sure your work area is clear and you aren’t wearing your Sunday best =)
Blow up your balloon and tie it. Put the balloon with the tail (knot) into your bowl. Take a strip of paper, dip your paintbrush into the glue, and cover the entire strip, then place the covered strip on the top of the balloon horizontally. Make sure to go over the strip with your fingers to smooth it, so the paper is flat on the balloon and not completely drenched in glue. Repeat the process with the strip right next to the first strip until the entire top of the balloon is covered and looks like a helmet on a head. Flip the piñata, repeat the process, and put another layer on top of it or triple-layer it if you want it to be sturdy. Do not cover up the tail(knot).

Now let it dry completely for 48 hours. If you want the piñata to be hard to break, let the piñata dry for 24 hours and add some more layers, but make sure it is somewhat dry before adding more layers so the balloon does not pop. Then, let it completely dry for 48 hours.

While it is drying, make sure to prepare your tissue paper so you can begin decorating it once it is completely dry. Now that the piñata is dry, you can pop the balloon and remove it. This hole is where you will put the candy and how you will hang it. You can hang the piñata by inserting two holes on each side of the piñata, right by where you insert the candy. Next, add a string and make a handle. I found it easier to make the handle before decorating it.

You can then decorate your piñata with tissue paper and the same “glue” you made to cover your piñata. This glue sticks to the paper faster and is less time-consuming than Elmer’s glue, although that is optional. You can use a smaller paintbrush on the tissue paper. Remember, this is your piñata, and there is no wrong way you decorate it (however, I gave three examples of the BEST way to decorate it and make it look awesome). Have fun and be proud of what you have made because not everyone has the patience for this crafty work! Now add your candy =)