Playlist for Life: The soundtrack of your life

Playlist for Life is about using music to enhance the well being of a person living with dementia. Music is an integral part of the work we do with the Friendship Group and it is therefore a good fit with us which is why Reflections is a Help Point for Playlist for Life. The purpose of the Help Points is to share how a playlist of personally meaningful music can help improve daily life. They are being set up all over the UK. 

We ask our members to each identify one song that evokes a memory they would like to contribute to a group playlist.

You can find the the Friendship Group playlist on Spotify. It is called “Reflections Friendship Group” and you can find it by clicking on this link: Spotify or by using the search option on Spotify. To find out the memories behind the songs click here.

Spotify is a music app that can be downloaded for free. You will need to create a free account on Spotify to be able to use it. You can then search for songs and find other playlists including the Friendship Group one.

Janet particularly enjoys listening to “Ed Stewpots Stewart’s Junior Choice (1000 Tracks For Kidz Of The 60’s n 70’s)(2)”. Link here.  It takes her back to her childhood and Saturday mornings listening to the radio.

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How do you create a playlist for life?

Building a personal playlist means exploring someone’s life-story to gather the tunes that are most deeply attached to memories and emotions – this is the soundtrack of their life.

The right music: Your first record. Nursery rhymes. TV themes. Karaoke. Musicals. Advertising jingles. Music lessons. The tunes your dad whistled. The record your child played again and again. The first dance at your wedding. Hymns. Religious songs. Football songs. Hobbies. Brassbands. Music from places you’ve been or the place that you came from. Music from places your family came from. Music is everywhere and part of all our lives. Your playlist is as unique as you are. Tracking down the right tunes by exploring someone’s life story means becoming a Music Detective. It’s fun!
 
More information on creating a playlist can be found here:
 
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Although Playlist For Life is aimed at people living with dementia, it is a great activity for anyone. We all have songs which when we hear them immediately transport us to another time and place.
 
I have included my first attempt at my Playlist here. I am happy to discuss its meaning – each tune is linked to my history and emotional memories. As recommended, I have only picked positive memories.