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Connecting Memories Through Music and Mindfulness: Empowering Families and Enriching Lives

Meher Garg shares tender moment with an elder

In 2020, during the COVID pandemic, Meher created the first Melody Memory Box to connect with her grandmother, who had dementia. She combined cherished photos of her grandmother's favourite memories, a simple Rubik's cube, and her favourite music into a personalised music box, which quickly became her grandmother's most treasured possession. Inspired by the success of this gift, Meher began making similar memory boxes for other patients with dementia and cognitive decline, sharing them with families and caregivers to help strengthen connections and promote memory recall.

- Meher Garg, Founder

I have always felt a deep spiritual connection to music. I began playing the piano at age 4, and started the flute and violin at age 8. For the past six years, I have played as a first violinist with the Illinois Symphony Youth Orchestra, and for the last four years, I’ve played the flute in my school band. I was in middle school when the COVID-19 pandemic began, and it was during that time that the idea for music therapy and the Music Memory Box came to life—aiming to bring music to people who may no longer have access to live performances. Starting with concerts in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospitals, and hospices, and incorporating mindfulness techniques, I founded the Music Therapy and Mindfulness Program.

The initiative led to a collaboration with musicians from the Illinois Symphony Youth Orchestra and local school bands, resulting in the creation of Melody Therapy. Throughout the year, youth musicians work to bring the therapeutic power of live music to nursing homes, dementia centres, and hospitals. The organisation has grown to over 25 volunteers and has hosted more than 50 concerts across Illinois. Musicians perform a variety of instruments, including piano, violin, viola, flute, and trumpet, covering genres from jazz and classical to cultural folk music. Melody Therapy has been recognised by the Presidential Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) as a certified organisation.

A musician playing the piano in a care home with elderly residents

Building on the overwhelming success of music therapy, Melody Therapy has now integrated mindfulness practices—such as breathing exercises and gentle yoga—into its sessions. These techniques help patients relax, manage stress, and deepen their emotional and cognitive engagement. Combining music with mindfulness creates an environment where patients feel more connected to their memories and surroundings, enhancing their overall quality of life.