Music Therapy Resources

American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) Website: https://www.musictherapy.org/

AMTA phone: 301-589-3300

Music Resources

Music Playlists For People With Dementia: A Guide for Carers, Health Workers, and Family (go to the “Music Lists” tab for song ideas): https://musicfordementia.github.io/

Song/artist ideas from board-certified music therapists Dr. Sun Joo Lee and Meghan Ross:

Oldies

Bicycle Built for Two
In My Merry Oldsmobile
Ain’t She Sweet
Buffalo Gals
April Showers
Toot Toot Tootsie
Side by Side
Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue
I’ve Been Working on the Railroad

Patriotic Songs

Military Medley
God Bless America
America the Beautiful
Yankee Doodle Dandy
My Country ‘Tis of Thee
When Johnny Comes Marching Home

Songs from Musicals

Edelweiss (from Sound of Music)
My Favorite Things (from Sound of Music)
Sound of Music (from Sound of Music)
Do, Re, Mi (from Sound of Music)
Till There Was You (from Music Man)
Seventy-Six Trombones (from Music Man)
Sunrise, Sunset (from Fiddler on the Roof)
You’ll Never Walk Alone (from Carousel)
Tomorrow (from Annie)
Songs from musicals by Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Loewe, and Meredith Wilson

Elvis Presley Songs

Hound Dog
It’s Now or Never
Love Me Tender
Jailhouse Rock
Are You Lonesome Tonight

Other Songs

Home on the Range
Red River Valley
Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree
The White Sport Coat and a Pink Carnation
Don’t Fence Me In
It Had to Be You
Cruising Down the River
Some Enchanted Evening
Beer Barrel Polka
That’s Amore
There is No Beer in Heaven
When It’s Springtime in the Rockies
Sentimental Journey

Popular Crooner Artists

Bing Crosby
Doris Day
Judy Garland
Ella Fitzgerald
Frank Sinatra
Perry Como
Dean Martin

*Note: If you already know your loved one’s favorite music, use that! These song lists just give some ideas if you do not know where to start. To help with your selections, consider factors that may influence your loved one’s musical preferences, such as where and when they grew up, their religion, musical training, etc.