Legacy Projects in Music Therapy
When an individual is near the end of their life, it is a common desire to leave behind something for their family or friends. This legacy provides a means for loved ones to remember the deceased individual, and a sense of connection after they have passed. Legacy projects can also provide a means of connecting in the present if the dying individual works on a legacy project with their loved ones. Some clients may not have close family and friends to give a legacy project to. Legacy projects can also be created as a client’s gift to themselves for life review and closure.
Music therapy can provide a variety of opportunities for legacy projects. Common projects include original songwriting, song parodies, song recreations, song collages, and heartbeat recordings. Depending on the client’s preferences and abilities, the music therapist may work with the client to compose songs with completely original lyrics and instrumentation. This may be unrealistic for some individuals as this can take significant time and effort. Another option would be to create a song parody by taking a song that the client connects with and rewriting the lyrics. A few lyrics could be changed here and there, or a whole chorus could be rewritten. These new compositions can be recorded by the music therapist and client, and gifted to family and friends.
A client may not be interested in or able to engage in more in-depth songwriting. A client may instead prefer to record themselves singing or playing an instrument to recreate a song that has personal meaning to them. This also provides opportunities for family members to join in the recording and sing with them as well. Song collages also offer an alternative to creating original music. A client could create a song collage that involves arranging parts or the entirety of different songs to convey a story or message. This message could be an autobiography, a story of a relationship, or general outlook on life.
Heartbeat recordings are a unique way to honor one’s life. A music therapist can record a client’s heartbeat, and then add vocals or instrumentals to the heartbeat recording. Depending on client and family preferences, a music therapist might include a song that has specific meaning to the client, or a recording of the client’s own voice or instrumentation.
Legacy projects in the form of music are particularly special because they can be experienced in the present moment. Even after the person is deceased, loved ones can hear their voice, message, or heartbeat in real time.
For more information about music therapy and how it might benefit someone you know receiving hospice care, feel free to contact us.
