Chicago's Good Memories Choir makes a difference for people with early-stage dementia

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — This week's Difference Maker highlights Good Memories Choir, which uses music to bring back memories.

“Good Memories Choir is a choir for people in early-stage dementia,” said Sandy Siegel Miller.

Siegel Miller is program director of the Good Memories Choir. She said the choir is evenly made up of individuals with dementia, their care partners and a team of volunteers.

Good Memories Choir is an offshoot of the "Sounds Good Choir," the Chicago area's largest "no-audition" choral group for those 55 and older.

They rehearse and perform at the historic Fourth Presbyterian Church at Michigan Avenue and Chestnut Street.

Siegel Miller co-founded the choir along with her husband Jonathan. He said scientific research shows that music sparks memory.

“These musical memories are encoded deeply in the brain and in lots of different parts of the brain,” he said. “When some parts of the brain start to go, all the other parts kick in.”

Bruce Calder is one of the singers.

“I haven’t sung since I was in grade school,” Calder said. “It’s just a wonderful feeling singing.”

His wife Elspeth Revere said the choir is a very welcoming environment.

“Everybody is so warm, supportive, non-judgmental and encouraging — and we make music,” she said. “Somehow we make music.”

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