THE SONATA PROJECT

‘SONATA FOR PIANO’

The practice of music therapy is a client centered one. From time to time this leads to a long-term project between the client and the therapist, such as making a recording or creating a Life Review with music.

In one such case, the result has been “Sonata for Piano: A Stroke Survivor’s Story.” My work with Tina and Tom Callahan began with providing an opportunity for stroke survivor Tina to re-connect with her love of music and for them to connect to each other by singing together. In spite of her pronounced aphasia, she was able to sing lyrics while Tom, a long time music fan, discovered his ability to sing favorite songs and even create harmonies. It was truly a joyful endeavor.

As our work evolved, Tina expressed a desire to play an instrument. She had discovered an old keyboard in their attic and began playing short motifs with her one partially functioning hand. This led to a year-long musical story-telling project, which portrays the incident, her journey through rehabilitation, and her discovery of a new way of being in the world.

SONATA FOR PIANO:
A STROKE SURVIVOR’S STORY

Sonata for Piano is an original composition created by stroke survivor Tina Callahan and Music Therapist, Patricia Mulholland. The piece consists of ten short compositions within five movements and is performed live as a duet on two pianos by Ms. Callahan and Ms. Mulholland. Tom Callahan, husband of Tina, provides brief narration between the movements.

The Sonata chronicles Ms. Callahan’s experience of stroke from the onset to her current state of recovery. The piece charts her journey from Darkness to Awakening, Curiosity, Acceptance and Joy. The program is facilitated by Ms. Mulholland and includes time for questions and discussion as well as a description of the process of creating the piece.

The program was presented as the Beverly Bryant Memorial Lecture at the Maine Brain Injury Conference of 2018. Other presentations include the Aphasia Foundation, Boston University Aphasia Group, York Hospital Stroke Support Group, and the University of New England.

Patricia, Tina and Tom are available for presentations of this project.

Audience members are often deeply moved and inspired by this piece.  The theme of discovering a new way of being in the world is an essential one, as rarely do brain injury survivors recover fully.

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