This book explains how the aging population has a common problem of loneliness which results in depression. Music evokes emotions from a time when they felt more needed. Music allows people to socialize. People can discuss their pleasant memories from a particular time period. They can socialize in choruses or orchestras where a music therapist can even set the mood with a certain type of music.
Music encourages motivation and a feeling of importance.
Patients with depression should only be given praise in the beginning of the therapy. Patients are often depressed because they feel useless, so they can help clean up or set up to make themselves feel more useful. A music therapist should be aware of mood swings in severely depressed individuals. The therapist should not have them calm down or bang out their feelings on a drum. Instead, the patient should verbally express feelings to the group.