We opened The New England Accordion Connection & Museum Co. here in North Canaan CT in the Fall of 2011. Since then, we have had a great variety of visitors, accordion enthusiasts, and most interestingly, folks who have never had any personal connection with an accordion. There have been many wonderful exchanges of musical experiences, stories and genuine appreciation for the beauty and craftsmanship of each accordion on display. But every so often, something very special and extraordinary has been happening.

Recently, a man in his 60’s brought his wife in to see our collection. She looked to be about the same age as her husband but seemed lost and not very interested in what was on display. While keeping a close eye on her, he quietly and sadly explained that she was dealing with the early onset of Alzheimer’s disease. He then asked if I could play a song or two for them. Almost immediately, the music caused a notable change in her demeanor. She came over to me while I played, and she smiled, giggled a little, and then began to dance by herself around the room.

I watched as the music seemed to transform this lady into another person, or perhaps, someone she used to be. And then it happened…her husband had been standing off to the side out of her line of sight, and she now noticed him. She paused in her dancing and breaking into a huge smile, she ran to him and they embraced one another kissing and hugging. He was crying. She now recognized him for who he was, and they began to dance together. It was one of the sweetest moments of my life. All the effort and cost of putting this museum together was worth it for this moment alone. And this was not the first time I had this kind of a reaction to our museum and music.

I first encountered this kind of phenomenon not very long after we opened our museum. One Saturday, there were a number of folks in our main museum room all at one time. An older couple came in and while the lady was preoccupied viewing the collection, her husband seemed lost and unsure of what he was supposed to be doing. He looked uncomfortable and I could see that he would rather be somewhere else. I began playing “Moonlight Serenade” by Glen Miller. People paused to listen, including this fellow. His demeanor changed when the music began, and he stared at my accordion for some time. He then went off to where his wife was reading something. After several unsuccessful attempts of trying to get her to turn toward him, she finally relented, and they began to dance to the music. Everyone in the room applauded them when the music was over. He got embarrassed and quickly left. His wife was slowly following him. But then she stopped, turned, and came closer to me. With tears in her eyes, she thanked me and said, “You know, my husband has dementia and hasn’t danced with me in over 30 years. This was very, very special. Thank you so much.”

I was happy that I could be a catalyst for their experience. But as I thought about this later, I realized how powerful the combination of memories and music is for some folks. It is so powerful that it can change a relationship hampered by dementia in a matter of minutes, even if its lasting effects are only temporary. Since then, other similar events have taken place in our facility. I think it is time to look further and deeper into this phenomenon.

Music Therapy is nothing new in the world of music from a medical perspective. There are numerous programs available in various places around the world that treat different forms of dementia with music. But I think the accordion may be particularly well suited for yielding the best results. That can have enormous implications for the future of the accordion. The following reasons are some of my thoughts on this matter:

1. Accordions reached the peak of their popularity in the 1900 to 1960 time period with many millions being manufactured. Consequently, more people were likely to hear an accordion being played as they were growing up as compared to other instruments. It would mean that more pleasant memories were experienced and associated with the sound of accordion music. Those memories would be locked in peoples’ minds just waiting to be accessed and remembered. Hearing an accordion’s sound later in life could be the trigger that opens their minds and memories. That would give the accordion a better chance of producing desired results if used in treating various forms of dementia, especially Alzheimers.

2. In our collection, there is the inevitable “antique smell” that comes from placing many accordions in one room. That too is something that can trigger a memory from a person’s past. It contributes to the person’s overall experience and helps them in recalling feelings and events. I’ve heard that comment from numerous visitors.

3. When people enter our museum, they are immediately standing in a room with over 400+ accordions neatly arranged on shelves and on tables before them. This visual sensory experience always shocks and surprises them, gets their attention, and causes them to look forward with greater anticipation for further pleasant experiences.

4. At this point, people begin to realize that they are seeing something special. I think it is this feeling of wonder and amazement that helps to open up the receptors in their mind as their interest grows and they anticipate more surprises to come. Within minutes, people come in and the surprise at what they see encourages them to immediately tell me a special accordion memory or story from many years ago. Now we quickly begin to have access to their memories.

5. Our brains have memory receptors for sounds, and the sound of an accordion is unique and distinctive. Many folks call it a happy sound. That makes it more adaptable to attaching itself to events that are occurring in someone’s life. I believe it makes it easier to recall that memory at a later date.

6. Over the years since its first production, the accordion was usually played at celebrations and, in general, when folks wanted to have a good time. The desirable memories created and imprinted in our brains are ones that we are happy to periodically revisit and remember. That tends to make them easier to recall. In a way, dementia clouds and blocks the memory function. Once a signal or sound is heard that our minds find to be desirable, it’s easier for a person to work through or around that blockage. The accordion seems to have that advantage over many other instruments.

7. There is also the historical significance of the accordion. Because so many (in the millions) were made in the first half of the 20th century, many lives were impacted. Consequently, the instrument became an important part of our entertainment and family life. I have often described the accordion to visitors as memory boxes because they helped make the memories that people carry throughout their lives. The accordion reached its peak of popularity during the first half of the 20th century and as such it brought folks together at a time when our country, and for that matter the rest of the world, was experiencing great stress from wars and economic depression. People had to come together to overcome these challenges in order to survive. The accordion was a positive help in promoting unity.

One comment that I have heard from many visitors to our museum is how beautiful each accordion appears. The craftsmanship, design, ingenuity, and the big sound that comes from these instruments are amazing. These facts all help our brain in remembering the people and events in our lives while the music was being played. They truly are beautiful instruments and works of art. Of course, the music itself becomes the obvious crowning touch and helps us complete the memory.

The accordion has such versatility that any kind of music can be played on it. Its portability also means that it can be taken anywhere and easily made available to enhance and become part of the memory. For all these reasons, we now have an instrument that possibly can become a major resource in helping folks as they work to break free from the debilitating and confining effects of Alzheimer’s and other dementia related diseases.

Here at our accordion museum and shop, we are beginning to focus our efforts and programs to not only bring the accordion to current generations, but to also apply its unique characteristics to helping people who are memory challenged. It thrills me to think that the accordion, with all of its considerable abilities to entertain, can now be used to medically treat and possibly help heal and restore peoples’ memory functions.

I would greatly appreciate any suggestions, stories, and experiences you can give us as we move forward on this project.
Email: ramunni@comcast.net
Paul Ramunni
Director of The New England Accordion Connection & Museum Co.
75 Main Street, North Canaan, CT. 06018

Books by Angelo Paul Ramunni:
“Pocket Cross Miracles, Stories of Hope, Healing and Encouragement”
“God Loves U-Turns, Our Last Chance to Make it Right“
“Rich Catholic, Poor Catholic, The Road to Grace”
“Accordion Stories from the Heart”                                                                           
All books are available for sale on Amazon