North Reading's Harmonica Man

Ed Scheib, North Reading's "Harmonica Man” and Dementia patient at the Meadow View Center, uses music to access memories that would otherwise be lost. Music has always been a part of his life, and now music therapy is allowing him to remember significant moments from his past.

"It is so nice to see my Dad as he used to be when he is playing his harmonica," Scheib's daughter Beverly Cook said. "The music he plays, sometimes along with a music therapist, certainly brings out the best of him at 95! My thanks to Meadow View for continuing to encourage my Dad's musical interaction with people."  

Scheib has been playing the harmonica since he was a child growing up in New York, according to Genesis Healthcare spokesperson Jeanne Moore. Every Saturday night he attended a dance to play his harmonica and "bring the room to life."

Now in his 90's, he still plays and it still has the same affect on anyone listening. His favorite songs to play are Peg Oh My Heart, Somebody Else is Taking My Place and Beer Barrel Poker, Moore said.

"His breathing capacity and stamina is amazing, as he plays non-stop for sometimes an hour when he gets in his zone and refuses to stop for a break or a glass of water," she said.  

Meadow View works with Music Therapist Deb Gromack who has a Master’s in Expressive Therapies from Lesley University. Gromack holds a weekly music group and one-on-one room visits with the Dementia patients at Meadow View.  

"Deb uses music as a doorway to bring out the other memories that are still within the mind but need memory senses such as music to provide the place card for moments in time," Moore told Patch. "Music can help become a link to other memory senses such as touch, feeling, music rhythm and smells."

Music therapy helps Scheib and other dementia patients access memories they had once forgotten. Music is the link to their pasts.

"What a pleasure it is for Ed to have with him this deeply imbedded memory of his harmonica days to keep him company and enjoy his quality of life, long into his late nineties," Moore said.