I love Music. It is is my greatest inspiration. Helps a lot when exercising. I especially like to listen through a good set of headphones because the sound is so clear and you can really hear every instrument. The headphones are also great for when you are lying in bed and can't sleep, which I believe happens to lot of us with PD.

I find songs that have a faster beat and more rhythmic helps for moving and exercise.

I have some ballroom dancing cd's, which is very rhythmic and inspiring to exercise with.

Try this one cranked up a ways... I can FEEL it in my brain and I KNOW it is doing physical things..I have also had a lot of miracles listening to Cajun Accordian and Fiddle.... and there is a guy on youtube who said his brain injury seemed to benefit from CAJUN music specifically....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwp&v=XAfR59SMGPM&NR=1

This one is Jay Unger who wrote the ashoken farewell for KEN BURNS CIVIL WAR 10 part PBS series...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRyMH_4PO3Y

Stewart,

Music has been a fundamental background in my life since the day I was born, way back in 1944! I grew up with a Grand Piano in the house. Having said that, I realize the importance of music in a person's life. To me, music is the universal language that bonds people together. I began a thread last Dec on this forum titled: OT Music For The Soul. Unfortunately, I have been the only contributor to date. I started it in hopes that others would add the music that keeps them going. Everyones type and style of music would be in one place for those of us who wish to be musically motivated! A good idea, but alas, it's time hasn't arrived yet, I guess, for we all, myself included, keep making music contributions as individual topics. This is still good, but it would be a lot easier to find them if they were all in one place.

Oh well, we'll all get around to it one day!

Good luck with your presentation mate! Jim

Stewart,

Glad you are sharing some ideas with your group. Hope it is not too late to jump in with a couple of thoughts.

As other mentioned here music is part of all of us. It has been there, hardwired, ever since we listened prenatally to the reassuring rhythmic beat our mothers' hearts. From those moments on, music has been a natural for us to respond to, whether we listen quietly, tap our feet, or play a guitar like you.
Music is a touchstone of life, giving it meaning, giving us pleasure.

Music is also a lens that allow us to focus our understanding of how brains work... and how we can nudge them to work better. We know now that capacities of our brains are not fixed at birth -- as was thought just a few decades ago. Brains can grow. And not just in the sense of intellectual growth, but physical as well. Even our old, tired, Parkinson's-afflicted brains can grow, strengthen and change. Music therapies like this one demonstrate that capacity: http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2012/12/28/music-as-therapy.html. Practical stuff, making people's lives better.

Where does this research go? It may be beyond the scope of your talk, but the research really gets interesting where systematic studies have been made of brain growth, even in old age. Take a look: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/brain/outreach/series_desc.html

Enjoy your talk. I hope you are up to playing some things on your guitar for them.

Beekeeper

Not only do I find music lifts my spirits, but in the past I have used singing loudly (and off-key) in my car has improved my swallowing/choking issues, as well as strengthened my voice.

I have had several comments made to me by co-workers and family members about how soft my voice has gotten & how hard it is to hear what I am saying. (Today SEVERAL people commented on difficult it was to hear me!)

Tomorrow morning I will be loading the CD player in my car with my favorite CDs and plan to sing along once again to get my own volume up!!!

Soft Voice, I'm going to start singing in the car as well. I've been accused of not being able to carry a tune even if it had handles. lol So I will be alone in the car. That's great news. Sometimes I can hardly hear myself.

Too funny Brian, I am the same !!!
But I don't care ... I crank up the iPad every morning and sing, in the shower! I think I sound alright ,the bathroom has great acoustics.
If I'm feeling a bit down it helps lift the spirts and gets the day started with a smile.

What an inspirational idea Stewart well done to you.
Anything from the 80's brings back memories, but having a 16 year old in the house has exposed me to more current music.
Birds of Tokyo is popular at the moment and great to sing too.
Good luck with your talk

Darlene

Music can definately cheer me up. I love singing along in the car when I am alone. I can't carry a tune in a paper bag. I know I am feeling a little older when a kid at work said he had never heard of the Greatful Dead.

Since getting Parkinsons, I've started playing harmonica in bars, restaurants, festivals etc. It is my life. Check me out on my website shakinghands.ca