Mind&Melody Expands Services To Los Alamos & State

Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on March 31, 2022
- 9:03 am

Mind&Melody Program Director Eric Guitian and Co-Founder/President Cristina Rodriguez with the check the nonprofit received at the AARP Connect and Thrive Competition March 9 in Miami. These funds will be used to provide free demonstrations of the program in New Mexico including long-term care facilities and Pueblos. Courtesy photo

Co-Founder and President of Mind&Melody Cristina Rodriguez discusses the nonprofit organization during the American Association of Retired People’s (AARP) Connect and Thrive Competition held March 9 in Miami. Mind&Melody received the People’s Choice award during the competition. Courtesy photo

By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

Cristina Rodriguez had a great idea – to use music to connect and assist young people and those with dementia. Her idea advanced into forming a nonprofit, Mind&Melody, which she co-founded in 2014 in Miami and serves as President. The nonprofit has taken off; it works with more than 60 organizations in Florida and serves more than 1,000 people.

In 2021, Rodriguez moved with her husband, who is a post-doc at Los Alamos National Laboratory, to Los Alamos and she said she is hoping to continue Mind&Melody’s success in New Mexico. Mind &Melody’s recent People’s Choice award at the American Association of Retired People’s (AARP) Connect and Thrive Competition held March 9 in Miami should help expand the nonprofit organization.

Rodriguez said receiving the award was a huge boost to Mind&Melody, “… with the award and its credibility – I think more people will understand (our organization) and want to work with us. Just having AARP’s recognition and being associated with them is a big deal.”

She said the award included $5,000, which will be used to provide free demonstrations of the program in New Mexico. The goal, she explained, is to work with long-term care facilities as well as connect with Pueblos and Native American tribes.

Los Alamos may be far removed from Miami, but Rodriguez said she is thrilled to be here and to offer her services to the community and state.

“I love Los Alamos, I really do and I hope we stay here a long time,” she said.

Mind&Melody offers its services both online and in-person, Rodriguez said. She added that they work one-on-one and in groups. Their clientele ranges from anyone as young as 4 to those in their 90s.

For instance, Mind&Melody created a ukulele band for children dealing with autism and “we hire professional musicians and teach them how to communicate and engage with individuals with dementia,” Rodriguez said.

She added that those with dementia build inter-generational relationships with their musicians all through singing, movement and playing instruments.

Music has always been a part of Rodriguez’s life.

“I started with the cello when I was 10,” she said. “I always love music. I listen to music every day.”

Rodriguez also reads a lot about music, particularly how it can impact the brain.

“Music is one of the very few activities that can light up all parts of the brain at once,” she said.

Furthermore, Rodriguez said music can trigger memories and influence people’s moods. She remembers a client who had dementia. The man named David played the violin. While working with him, Rodriguez said he was given a violin and immediately began to play it flawlessly, and smiled.

“I realized I needed to do this work,” Rodriguez said.

The music utilized by Mind&Melody is mostly from the 30s and 70s – the era of most of its clients’ youth. Still, some current pop music has a distinct beat that dementia patients enjoy, Rodriguez said. So, everyone from Frank Sinatra to Enrique Iglesias are played.

To learn more about Mind&Melody, visit https://mindandmelody.org.