ABSTRACT
Dementia affects an estimated 46.8 million people worldwide, a figure which may grow exponentially in the coming years as the world's population ages. The clinical features of dementia include, amongst other symptoms, memory and language impairments, as well as a decline in cognitive functions, often leading to a break-down in communication, social isolation, anxiety, compulsive behaviors and/or depression. Music is increasingly seen to have an essential non-pharmacological therapeutic role within healthcare. The distinctive features of the music workshops was the intergenerational nature of the sessions, the focus on active musical playing, and the participation of musicians in the early stages of early-onset dementia. Chamber music players are undeniably finely attuned to the inherently collaborative, creative and communicative nature of their musical practice. Although these workshops were not conducted with any research outcomes in mind and did not have the rigour of a scientific study, they still shed light on how chamber music can over-ride social and emotional barriers.
