The article explores the profound emotional impact of playing music for a loved one with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's in a nursing home. The author reflects on the experience of playing violin pieces by Bach for his father, whose stoic response would occasionally break into expressions of thankfulness. Initially hesitant to perform publicly, the author finds that the music facilitates a unique flow state. This experience not only nurtures the father's spirit but also rekindles the author's connection with his own musical passion, highlighting the therapeutic potential of the arts in healthcare settings.
Sometimes my mother saw him attempt to clap. After a halting reading of Bach's majestic Chaconne that would have drawn scorn from the critic in me, we both clearly heard him say thank you.
As it was, she said, they could all hear me through the walls. She might have picked up on my hesitation: Playing in front of any kind of audience always triggered my anxiety.
What had been intended as an act of care for the residents had also healed a tiny bit of the rift in my relationship with the violin.
These musicians, all faculty members at the Peabody Institute, are part of a nationwide trend to bring the arts into health care settings.
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