Keefer 1

Hailey Keefer

Yeyna

Brit Literature (1)

5 February 2018

Annotated Bibliography

DailyCaring. “Music for Seniors: Improve Health, Mood, and Sleep.” ​DailyCaring​, 1 Mar. 2017,

dailycaring.com/music-for-seniors-improve-health-mood-sleep/.

https://dailycaring.com/music-for-seniors-improve-health-mood-sleep/

In this article, the author is informing the reader of all the health benefits music can have

for elders. After reviewing many studies, the author examines the different ways that music can

benefit elders, especially those with cognitive issues. The studies show that pre surgery patients

had less anxiety listening to music, than taking anti-anxiety medication. The article lists different

health benefits music can poses for seniors. For example music can reduce pain, blood pressure,

and even improve sleep for these seniors. This article helps me with realizing all the benefits

music can have, and using it to my advantage. The research behind this actually helps me realize

that I am helping the people I am playing for in a positive manner. It enhances my project further

because I am not only visiting and brightening their days, I am also relaxing them with some

smooth jazz.

Klemm, William R. “What Jazz Music Can Do for the Brain.” Psychology Today, Sussex

Publishers, 27 Apr. 2014,

www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/memory-medic/201404/what-jazz-music-can-do-the-

brain​.
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In this article Klemm explores all how jazz music can benefit not only the listener but the

musician as well. He shares about his life in not being a huge musician, but still appreciating jazz

music. After going to see many live jazz performances and looking into them, he found some

really valuable research that I can use for my capstone. He found that listening to jazz can help

relieve stress. While stress is an enemy to memory ability, listening to jazz can help your

memory. Since jazz is wholesome fun, it can also spark happiness for a while. Using this

information I can conclude that when I play jazz I can help elders health. Not only will I be

improving the health of seniors, I will also be sparking a joy to those who are playing the music.

Playing jazz can have the same effects of listening to it.

Locker, Melissa. “Music Can Alter Your Child's Brain.” Time, Time, 16 Dec. 2014,

time.com/3634995/study-kids-engaged-music-class-for-benefits-northwestern/.

http://time.com/3634995/study-kids-engaged-music-class-for-benefits-northwestern/

In this article Locker explores the benefits of kids learning instruments. In a study of

neuroscience, they discovered that those who have had musical training have had a biological

effect of the development of their nervous systems. When a child learns to play music, they

begin to process sounds differently and more frequently. The article discusses how children can

have cognitive benefits from playing music and becoming hands on with it. Since I am teaching

middle schoolers how to play jazz music, I am hoping to use what I learn from here and apply it.

When they play jazz they will be hopefully getting all the benefits like reduced stress and

memory gain. However, I also hope that they can reap the benefits of playing their instruments.

Jazz is very different from what they are used to playing as well, and learning a new form of
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music for your instrument improves your skills within this field. This article helps me understand

how important music can be on a young person's brain, and health.

“Music and the Brain.” ​How Does Music Affect You?,​

effectsofmusicinquiry.weebly.com/music-and-the-brain.html.

https://effectsofmusicinquiry.weebly.com/music-and-the-brain.html

In this article the author dives in on the various effect music can have on your brain. They

do this by not only showing how it affects you when you are playing or listening, but even how

music can run the brain. Though music has already been proven to be a therapeutic and mood-

altering tool, music can also affect different parts of the brain. All the different elements music

can make and you can hear affects how your brain process it. Multiple different cortices can

process and be positively affected by all of this as well. The article goes into depth about the

science about how each cortex gets affected. This is important to my research because I am

trying to positively affect people with music. Therefore, I need to know and understand the

science behind what music does to each specific part of the brain. Since I now know this

information I am hoping to use it and track to see if it I can visibly see these differences in mood

and behavior.

“Visiting Nursing Home Residents .” ​Benefits of Intergenerational Connections​, Legacy Project,

legacyproject.org/guides/visitnursinghomes.html.

https://legacyproject.org/guides/visitnursinghomes.html

In this article, the author explores the importance of different generations connecting with

their elders. Since they are an organization, they notice that every time one of the old people gets

a visitor, it brightens up their days, especially if it a younger kid. This article is encouraging all
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ages to go make connections with their elders. A lot of the times, the elders in these retirement

homes can become really lonely, and could really need a visit. However, it is more beneficial to

have ongoing visits. These series of ongoing visits allows for a trust and some sort of

relationship to develop, which is essential for all ages. You can learn some really valuable

lessons from your elders, and I intended to learn at least one story from someone. This is

valuable to my process because I am working with not only elders but middle schoolers as well,

in hope to make intergenerational connections. Reading this sparked my interest in getting to

know the people I am around and how I do not want it to feel like I am just working on a

capstone, I want to share life stories and receive some good ones back. This is important for my

research because I hope I can bring some joy to some elders by playing some music for them,

and make them feel less lonely.