Embodying the space: Using musical improvisation and ‘in the moment’ work with people living with dementia

This reflective article explores how musical improvisation fosters embodied connection, creative self-expression, and relational well-being for and with people living with dementia. Drawing on over ten years of embedded practice within Manchester Camerata’s Music in Mind programme, orchestral musician and music therapist Amina Hussain offers a reflective account of improvisation work with people living with dementia in community-based group settings. While the evidence-base for music and dementia is expanding, there are few examples in the literature which centralise music practitioners’ voices, perspectives, and practices. Centring the musician-therapist’s voice, this article showcases how ‘in the moment’ musical dialogues can support agency, presence, and co-creation beyond verbal communication or memory recall. By situating improvisation as a relational and ethical practice, the article highlights implications for dementia care, creative health policy, and future research into practitioner-led musical approaches.