A musical group to improve the quality of life. Background and proposal

Ana Mercedes Vernia-Carrasco

doi:10.31637/epsir-2026-1942

Autores/as

Ana Mercedes Vernia-Carrasco Universitat Jaume I https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2729-9287

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31637/epsir-2026-1942

Palabras clave:

music, dementia, quality of life, therapy

Resumen

Introduction: Active music practice can be considered a good tool for improving the quality of life of people with dementia. This paper combines an experience with a brief theoretical review. Objectives: The objectives were to show the experience of a group of older people who have no knowledge of music, but who learn songs from memory and share them in a hospital. Methods: observation and ethnographic methodology, which are part of the qualitative methodology, were combined. This methodology made it possible to observe the participants and at the same time to live with them during the active music sessions. Results: several articles were found that support the use of active music to improve the quality of life, in addition to reducing stress in hospital situations. It was also observed that the hospital experience with the musical group was beneficial for participants, caregivers, and physicians.. Conclusions: Programs that use music to improve the quality of life of people with dementia are useful, although more research is still needed. It is necessary to be able to design specific programs that can be adapted to specific patient profiles. Music is suitable as a non-invasive treatment, and can be combined with pharmacological treatments.

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Biografía del autor/a

Ana Mercedes Vernia-Carrasco, Universitat Jaume I

Professor of Musical Expression Teaching at Jaume I University. With a PhD from the University of Barcelona, she has established an academic career focused on music education and quality of life. She directs the ‘L'Alcora Chair of Music Research and Quality of Life’ and the Q-HEART group and the HADEODS_17 Educational Innovation Group. She was the founding editor of the ARTSEDUCA magazine and chairs the Spanish Society for Music Education (SEM-EE). Coordinator of the ‘UNESCO Learning Cities’ in L'Alcora. She has received various awards related to education, quality of life and music. She is a member of the Board of ISME (International Society for Music Education). Honorary Visiting Researcher Appointment at the University of Surrey (UK).

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