Music, Memory & the Aging Brain
Dr. Concetta M. Tomaino to Speak at Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival
We are delighted to share that Dr. Concetta M. Tomaino, Co‑Founder and Executive Director of the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function (IMNF), will deliver a lecture titled “Music, Memory & the Aging Brain” on August 4, 2025, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm at the New Mexico Museum of Art in Santa Fe. This presentation is part of the esteemed BAM!! Insights on the Brain and Music series at the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival santafechambermusic.org.
In this 60-minute session, Dr. Tomaino will explore how music-based interventions enhance memory and stimulate meaningful connections in individuals with Alzheimer’s and related dementias. This event offers a rare opportunity to hear firsthand how music can transform care and quality of life in aging populations. It will benefit not only healthcare and senior living professionals, but also families, caregivers, and anyone committed to enhancing wellbeing through music.
For more information or to register, visit the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival website: https://santafechambermusic.org/concert/
A groundbreaking new economic analysis from the NeuroArts Blueprint Initiative—backed by AARP and conducted by Deloitte—has revealed what many in our field have long understood: music engagement is not just meaningful, it’s cost-effective. The study, part of the growing movement to integrate the arts into healthcare through the science of neuroarts, found that incorporating music engagement into the care of individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease yields a return on investment (ROI) of up to $2.40 for every dollar spent annually. For individuals with Alzheimer’s, the ROI is estimated at $1.70 per dollar, and for caregivers, $0.70 per dollar. These findings are more than just numbers. They reinforce the real-world impact that music-based interventions—like those championed by the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function—can have on quality of life, emotional well-being, memory recall, and caregiver resilience. As an organization proudly listed among the NeuroArts Blueprint resource partners, IMNF has long been committed to advancing the science and practice of music and health. This new report gives validation to what our clinicians and partners have seen firsthand in care settings across the country. We encourage care providers, policymakers, and researchers to take note of this momentum and invest in scalable, person-centered music programs. Now is the time to bring music engagement further into the fabric of healthcare and long-term support. Read the full report: Link Watch the video overview: Link Together, we can continue to transform care through the power of music.
May 15, 2025 - This special event is open to all who want to make music, connect, and have fun!
In collaboration with the award recipient, Dr. Daniel Bowling of Standford University, IMNF’s music therapist, Sarah Fogler and Dr. Tomaino will explore how music therapy can be translated into a digital therapeutic for young adults with depression and anxiety.”
IMNFs new online course, Best Practices from Music Therapy for Using Music in Senior Wellness and Healthcare is approved for Continuing Education Credits by CBMT, NAB, NCTRC, and NYSED. Developed by Dr. Concetta Tomaino and the IMNF team, this on-demand course equips practitioners, caregivers, and leaders with the knowledge and tools to implement therapeutic music practices in senior care. Now with CEU approval across disciplines, the course is accessible and meaningful for a broader audience of professionals seeking to expand their impact. “ We developed this training to enhance knowledge of best practices in the use of music in senior care for many people already working in this area ," says Dr. Tomaino, " i.e., musicians, therapeutic recreation specialists, volunteers, and caregivers. The advanced credential for master's-level music therapists is to elevate the role of MTs to an advisory and consulting role in senior care. Only a small percentage of MT-BCs work in senior healthcare, yet there are 1.3 million seniors living in nursing homes in the U.S. We not only want to be sure these individuals benefit from intentional use of music programs, but that music therapists who want to work in this area are elevated and recognized for their expertise.” About the Course Based on the book Music Has Power® in Senior Wellness and Healthcare , this nine-module training bridges the gap between music therapy and everyday care. It draws on over 40 years of clinical and research experience and is designed for: Long-Term Care Professionals and Administrators Recreational Therapists and Activity Professionals Music Therapists and Master’s-Level Clinicians Musicians and Artists in Healthcare Family Caregivers Participants who successfully complete the online course earn certification as a Senior Care Music Specialist , along with a one-year IMNF membership and listing in our referral network, along with a complimentary copy of Dr. Tomaino’s book. Master’s-level MT-BCs interested in earning the Advanced Senior Care Music Therapist (ASCMT) credential can complete the course online and then participate in a specialized in-person training at IMNF’s headquarters in Mount Vernon, NY. Learn More Download Course Flyer
Join us in celebrating World Music Therapy Week and the power of music to heal! April 10–15, 2025
Dr. Concetta Tomaino joins the Seizing Life podcast by CURE Epilepsy
March 31, 2025 - Join us for an insightful discussions on the power of music in dementia care!
March 26 & 27, 2025 - Join Dr. Tomaino for a Q&A session at Indiana University Indianapolis
March 23, 2025 - Join Dr. Concetta Tomaino at this free community event in White Plains, NY!
March 20,2025 - Join Dr. Tomaino for a Music Has Power® in Senior Wellness and Healthcare Breakout Session
