Documentary Australia Foundation

'Beyond The Music': The Power of Music with people who are living with dementia and other age-related conditions.

About the film

Title: 'BEYOND THE MUSIC: The power of music with people who are living with dementia and other age-related conditions"

Brief outline: As well as demystifying the condition of dementia, this film shows the wonderful benefits of music making with those who have dementia. Through the stories of people who are living with dementia, we have caught, on film, evidence of music therapy stimulating social interaction, reducing agitation, stimulating memory and clear thinking, and reducing behavioral, social, cognitive, and emotional problems. It was shot at an Aged Care Facility in Canberra over a 3 month period in 2010.

Have you experienced hearing a song and being filled with memories of experiences from the past?
Have you listened to a song and had emotions stirring within?
Can you remember words to a song as you sing along?
Do you feel more at peace when you are or have just listened to your favourite music?
Do you find making music or just listening to your favourite musicians playing live uplifting?

In 'Beyond the Music', see people who:
Sing when they can't string a sentence together or can't even remember any words to speak
Sing and cry or laugh as they make music together
Greet the music therapist with huge smiles and a twinkle in their eye when they have been just sitting or wandering for hours at a time
Remember the music therapist but can't remember friends or family
Change from being frustrated because they don't understand where they are, where their family is, what they are supposed to be doing; to being happy and at peace in the moment.
Readily share their stories from significant times in their lives when songs trigger memories.

The magic of music is doing its work---- long live the "Singing that is a celebration of life, that consoles us, soothes our souls, and generates hope".

Key creator: Alkeiya Brown, Registered Music Therapist , is the Producer, Director and Writer. Alkeiya has extensive experience working in the arts with all ages from young children to the very old, as a music therapist, a preschool music teacher, a piano teacher, a playback theatre performer, a singer, a musician and a community arts facilitator.


As a music therapist she has been working for 6 years with people who have disabilities, particularly those living with dementia. This included the organising of regular music making sessions at several aged care facilities, group and one-on-one music therapy sessions, the training of staff in the use of music and talking at conferences about the benefits of music- making.

Total Project Budget

AUD $20,000

Length of Production

51 40 seconds minutes

Stage of Production

Post-production

How does the project meet the aims of a philanthropic foundation?

As a music therapist I planned the film 'Beyond The Music' over several years, my intention being to increase awareness of the benefits of music-making with people who have dementia and other age-related conditions.

The film footage was shot during 2010, when I was working at Jindalee Aged Care Facility in Canberra. I have since moved back to my 'home town' in southern Tasmania and am working enthusiastically as editor, director, writer and producer of 'Beyond the Music'. At the same time I am continuing my work as a music therapist.

The experience of shooting the film at Jindalee involved residents, members of their family, staff and friends. The sharing that took place highlighted the positive aspects of a community where people are committed to the well-being of others. It also revealed possibilities of bringing further hope and joy of life into aged care institutions and into the general community.

I hope this project will help to demystify the condition of people living with dementia and other age related conditions and help to inspire others in ways of actively engaging with them, in particular through the power of music.

What outcomes do you hope to achieve by making this film and how will you measure its impact?

I believe that 'Beyond The Music' will result in:

Increased awareness in the community of dementia and other aged-related conditions, and a consequent lessening of fear about them, so that more people are encouraged to visit their relations and friends in aged care facilities

Greater appreciation of the many ways the community cares for those of us who have dementia and other age-related conditions.

Increased awareness of the benefits of music-making and music to older people specifically and to the wider community

Implementation of more music and music-making programs in the community

Increased awareness of the role of the music-therapist in establishing appropriate music-making programs


Its impact can be measured by:

The response of the aged-care communities who view the film

The amount of music that is used in aged care facilities and in the community after viewing of the film

The amount of visiting to aged care facilities by family and friends after viewing the film.

The direct response I get when using the film as an educator at conferences and in educational institutions

The response I receive through the internet

Media response

What is your education and outreach strategy

My Qualifications include:
Bachelor of Arts, University of Tas 1974,
Diploma of Education, Claremont Teachers College 1980,
Certified Suzuki Piano Teach, Burwood Teaching College, 1983,
Diploma of Creative Music Therapy, University of Western Sydney, 2003,
Certificate in Small Business Management, Qskills, Canberra 2004.

As a music therapist, a community arts facilitator, a conference presenter, a teaching artist in schools, a preschool music teacher, a piano teacher, a playback-theatre performer, a singer and a musician I intend distributing 'Beyond The Music' to as wide a section of the community as possible.
It will be shown at a Complimentary Therapy in Aged Care Conference in Tasmania in October this year;
VEA , leading educational and non-theatrical producers and distributors, are interested in the film;
Pre post-production, working copies, have been distributed to potential donators and distributers both in Australia and overseas, including TV stations.
A website and media kit are also being created.
A working copy, with time-code, is available for viewing.

Who are the filmmakers responsible for the project?

Alkeiya is the film maker- writer, producer, director, and editor.
A camera man was engaged, who was supported by Ronin Films (www.roninfilms.com.au/);
Wide Angle Tasmania (www.wideangle.org.au/) offered advice and a film-makers support network; Raef Sawford was the editing tutor and Nick Armstrong the sound engineer and technical advisor.
This project is supported by 'Our Wellness Foundation' ( www.ourwellnessfoundation.org.au/) from the Canberra Hospital, ACT.