Harmony In Dementia

03/08/2026

03/06/2026

Recently a community music therapy group reminded me why these spaces matter so much.

We brought together residents from a dementia care community and people living at home in the community alongside their carers. Everyone was on a different part of their dementia journey, yet music created a space where everyone could show up exactly as they are.

There was laughter, energy, and so many small moments of connection that reminded me how powerful it is when people come together in community.

Music doesn’t just fill the room, it builds relationships, supports carers, and helps people feel seen and heard.

03/05/2026

NEW DATE ADDED!

✨ Experience the harmony that happens when we’re together. ✨

I’m excited to be offering another interactive community music group for people living with dementia and their carers at the Leland Library in the new year!

🎶 What to expect: Each session is filled with singing, movement, playing instruments, and listening activities that bring out joy, connection, and self-expression.

Caregivers join alongside the person they support—because sharing the music together makes it even more meaningful.

🗓️ 2026 Dates (Wednesdays, 2-3PM):
January 28
February 25
March 25
April 29

💜 Cost: Free for all participants
📍Location: Leland Library
👥 Space is limited to 30 participants (15 caregiver–partner pairs)

✍️ Pre-registration is required
📧 To register: contact@harmonyindementia.com
brunswickcountylibrary
Brunswick County Library

03/02/2026

Songwriting in action 🎶✍️

One of my favorite music therapy activities with people living with dementia is fill-in-the-blank songwriting.

Using a familiar melody helps set everyone up for success and when we change the words, something really special happens.

Suddenly, the song becomes theirs.
Personal stories emerge.
Humor shows up.
Preferences, memories, and personality are shared.

These songwriting activities are powerful when I’m just getting to know a group and even more meaningful when we’ve been building relationships over time.

Every lyric is a reminder that identity, creativity, and self-expression are always present.

02/19/2026

For my Cultural Representations of Aging class, we were asked to create a meaning and purpose collage—using objects that reflect our individual meaning and purpose.

Each item in this collage represents connection, creativity, love, and the relationships that shape how I move through the world, both personally and professionally.

It was a powerful reminder that meaning and purpose isn’t just one thing; it’s layered, evolving, deeply personal, and changes throughout life.

What objects would make up your collage?

02/15/2026

When you hire a music therapist, you’re not just paying for someone to engage your person through their unique interests, strengths, and music preferences. 🎶

You’re also gaining another set of trained eyes and ears.

Recently, I observed a client presenting differently than how I usually see them. That observation prompted an important conversation, not only with the nursing staff, but with their family as well.

Sometimes I’m the first to notice subtle changes. Other times, the care team is already aware. Either way, open and honest communication between everyone involved leads to more thoughtful, responsive, and compassionate care.

Music therapy is about relationship, observation, and advocacy. 💪🏻

02/10/2026

Moments that make my day as a music therapist ✨

Walking into the community with my cart and guitar and hearing a staff member excitedly say, “They’re ready for you!”

Packing up at the end of the session and having a resident ask for a moment of my time just to say, “Thank you so much for coming. I loved hearing you sing.”

Moments like these are small, but they mean everything. 💜 🎶

02/07/2026

I recently attended a client’s celebration of life.

As a music therapists, I often walk alongside people throughout their lives and beyond.

Attending the service reminded me that my clients continue to teach me long after our sessions end. This client’s joy, enthusiasm, laughter, and deep love of life lives on through me and the others they impacted along the way.

If you’re ever given the opportunity to attend a client’s service, know that it can shape you not only as a person, but as a professional.

02/07/2026

February’s Harmony in Dementia newsletter is here 💜

This month I’m sharing community updates, a heart-centered playlist focused on connection and belonging, a caregiver resource I truly love, and ways to get involved—both locally and online.
If music, care, and community matter to you, I’d love to have you join us.

📩 Subscribe to be together in harmony!

02/06/2026

For my Cultural Representations of Aging graduate class, we were asked to write a poem on death, dying, and bereavement, and encouraged to be creative.
 
Like all art forms, poetry can be subjective, so I wanted to share in case it resonates.
 
inspired me to write as I listened to music and painted the watercolor background.
 
This exercise was cathartic and a great reminder to follow moments of creativity. 🤍

shared heaviness

in the smallest moments
do i take them for granted
when life feels heavy
do i not make the most of them
everyone is carrying something
the weight of life and loss
what if we shared the weight
could we become lighter together
and float in loss and love
to make more of the
smallest moments
-Tara Jenkins

02/02/2026

Big thanks the students and professors for inviting me talk about ageism and advocacy in music therapy! 💜🎶

01/30/2026

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to lead my first community music therapy group for people living with dementia and their caregivers in Brunswick County, at the Leland Library.

None of the participants knew each other before the session and by the end, we were laughing, singing, and smiling together.

Music has a powerful way of bringing people together—creating shared experiences, fostering community, and reminding us we’re not alone.

One message from a participant stayed with me:

“I haven’t seen them enjoy themselves like that in a long time…it was special that we could enjoy something together.”

Building community one song at a time.

And a big thank you the for sponsoring this series!