Music
Draw to music
Listen to music together and let lines, shapes and colors follow the sound.
Who might enjoy it: People who love music, dancing or singing along, or who once played an instrument. Good for a day when words come slowly, because the music leads the way.
- Setup
- About 5 minutes
- Activity
- 10–30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Mess
- Little mess
- Where
- At a table, seated-friendly, bedside
- Help
- Someone nearby
Materials: 5 everyday things, listed below
What you need
- Large sheets of plain paper
- Crayons, colored pencils or washable markers
- A phone, radio or music player
- A short list of three or four pieces of music with different moods
- Masking tape to hold the paper still
No need to buy anything special
- No large paper? Tape two sheets of printer paper together or use the back of wrapping paper.
- No markers? A soft pencil or a ballpoint pen works; chunky crayons are easier to grip.
What to do
- Tape a sheet of paper to the table so it does not slide.
- Lay out the crayons or markers and offer a choice of color.
- Play the first piece of music at a comfortable volume.
- Draw lines or shapes together that follow the music, fast or slow, big or small.
- Swap colors whenever either of you likes.
- Stop the music and look at the drawing together. Talk about it only if they want to.
- Try a different piece of music on a new sheet, or stop there.
It is okay to stop or change it
It is fine to stop after a few marks or a single song. Keep listening together without drawing, or put the music on for a quiet moment instead.
Make it easier or different
- Make it easier
- Use one chunky crayon and one slow piece of music. Simply moving the crayon back and forth is a full way to take part.
- In bed or an armchair
- Tape the paper to a clipboard or lap tray and play music quietly from a phone close by.
- For low vision
- Use thick black or dark markers on white paper, and describe aloud the shapes you are drawing.
- Less to see, hear or touch
- Choose soft, steady music at low volume, one color and a small sheet. Stop if it feels like too much.
- With children
- Take turns choosing the music. A child and an older adult draw on the same sheet from opposite sides.
- More of a shared effort
- Draw on one shared sheet. One person draws while the music plays, the other adds color when it pauses.
Safety
- Keep the volume comfortable and check hearing aids are in and switched on. Avoid sudden loud music.
- Use washable, non-toxic markers or crayons. Marker on skin usually washes off with soap and water; avoid drawing on skin.
- Keep pens and crayons away from the mouth if the person may chew or taste things.
- Some music brings up strong feelings. If they seem upset, pause, offer comfort, and switch to something calm.
These are practical suggestions, not medical advice. You know the person best.
Drawing to music needs no plan and no drawing skill. The music sets the pace, the marks can be anything, and the page simply records a piece of time you spent listening together.