Alexander Strachan’s grandmother had been living with Alzheimer’s disease for several years, and she had reached the point where she couldn’t verbalize much and often didn’t recognize her family.
One day in 2009, when she was in the hospital, Alexander brought his violin—an instrument he had been playing since age 10—and played “How Great Thou Art,” one of his grandmother’s favorite hymns. She had grown up singing and playing the piano in church and, hearing that familiar music, she perked up and started singing along.
Wow, I need to do this more often, thought Alexander, of Bowie, Maryland.
And then it occurred to Alexander: If Grandma reacts to music this way, maybe other people with dementia will too.
Finding healing through music for Alzheimer’s patients
That thought stayed with Alexander as he attended Dickinson College in Pennsylvania and spent time in Japan as an arts missionary.
Then, about 10 years ago, back in the States, Alexander started Healing Strings Studio, whose purpose is to bring music to people in much-needed places. He also gives violin lessons. And just as he did for his grandmother, who has since passed, Alexander plays his violin for nursing home residents.