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Ep. 208: Choral Communities of Joy – Music, Belonging, and Living Well with Dementia; with Eyleen Braaten

Mindy Peterson, NCTM
music and dementia care

Photo by Kampus Production on Pexels

What if a choir could do what medicine cannot? Learn how Giving Voice Initiative’s dementia-friendly choirs are transforming lives—bringing joy, purpose, and a deep sense of belonging to people living with dementia and their care partners. Discover the power of the universal instrument – the voice – to create connection, break stigma, and build community.

Guest

Most of us have been touched in some way by dementia. My guest today has been, and she came to the conclusion that there are certain things music can provide that medication cannot. People with and without dementia want purpose and connection. My guest today is on a mission to provide “choral communities of joy” and the greatest gift you can give someone: a sense of belonging. Eyleen Braaten is Executive Director of Giving Voice Initiative, a nonprofit that inspires and equips dementia-friendly choirs that change lives and community perceptions. The organization brings joy and empowerment to people living with dementia and their care partners. It is based right here in Minneapolis, which means I got to meet Eyleen in person, which I don’t get to do with many of my guests, and it was absolutely delightful!

Notes

We discuss:

Connect/Other Resources

Other episodes we mentioned or that you may enjoy:

In-Episode Promo

JAMBAR: Staying balanced in life is very important to me – balance in work and play, activity and rest, and balance in fueling my energy. When I am on the go – or just find my cupboards running a little bare – the fuel I reach for is JAMBAR energy bars. These bars are Certified Organic whole food bars; they’re non-GMO and gluten-free. I especially love that they are higher in protein than the other all-natural bars I’ve found, and they’re minimally sweetened with only all-natural sweeteners. While I love all five flavors, my personal favorites are Musical Mango and Tropical Trio. JAMBAR flavor names reflect the company founder’s passion for music, and JAMBAR donates a whopping fifty percent of net profits to programs that support music and active living. Join me in supporting a balanced life and world by reaching for JAMBARs. Available at Amazon, select retailers, and jambar.com. (Learn more in Ep. 160.)

Coda

Eyleen shares a story about her dad, a lifelong musician (and her singing partner in Giving Voice). Eyleen says:

When I was a kid, some of my favorite memories were spent in the back corners of small-town bars, listening to my dad’s band play. Long before I was old enough to understand the lyrics or stay out past bedtime, I knew the feeling of music filling a room — the way a guitar riff could lift a crowd, or how a slow ballad could quiet a noisy place.

I’d watch my dad on stage, his face lit up in a way I didn’t see anywhere else. The music wasn’t just something he did — it was something he lived. And without realizing it, I was learning to live it too.

Those nights planted something deep in me: a love for the way music connects people, how it can hold stories, memories, and emotions words alone can’t quite reach. It shaped who I am — in the way I listen, the way I lead, and the way I believe in the power of shared songs to bring people together.

Music taught me about joy, about heartache, about belonging. It made me fall in love — not just with the sound, but with the feeling. And that feeling has never left me.

Closing Words

Thank you so much to Eyleen for sharing that story, for joining us today, and for all she does to enhance lives with music for those living with dementia and their loved ones. If you live in the Twin Cities area, the Bloomington Chorus has a concert coming up on May 17 in Edina. There will be a link in the show notes, as well as links to all resources from our conversation, a transcript of this episode, and pictures from my visit to the Bloomington Chorus rehearsal that meets at Schmitt Music.

Doug Schmitt (Schmitt Music), Mindy, Eyleen, Bruce (Eyleen’s Dad), Viva Carr (Giving Voice)
Bloomington Chorus
Dr. Brent Rogers directing Bloomington Chorus

If there’s a topic or guest that you would like to hear featured on this show, or if you have a question for me that you’d like to hear answered on the show, please let me know. You can always connect with me on email (mindy@mpetersonmusic.com), Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn.

Thank you so much for joining me today. Until next time, may your life be enhanced with music.

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