Through melodic intonation therapy, music can be a helpful approach for people with non-fluent aphasia. But everyone loves music, and music streaming services make it easier than ever to listen to your favorite songs and musicians. Unlike MP3s, you don’t need to buy and download individual songs. All you need is a good internet connection. So, whether you’re moving around to the classics or keeping up with the latest hits for the grandkids, these streaming services let people with aphasia and their caregivers share their musical interests with their friends and family. Additionally, they’re all available to use for free.
Spotify
Spotify offers a massive catalog of albums from musicians you already know and love. And the best part is that they’re all available to hear on-demand for free. All you have to do is connect to the internet and download the Spotify app to your computer or phone. They also feature playlists organized by different genres. But if those don’t work for you, you can always make your own. You can even share those playlists with your children, grandchildren, and friends.
Pandora
Pandora is almost like listening to the radio but on the internet. Unlike Spotify, you have less freedom to choose which songs play next — but this also means you have the chance to hear music you haven’t heard before. First, search for a song or musician you already know. Then, you can listen to “their” radio station, which features their songs as well as songs from similar artists. Don’t like a song? Just press the thumbs down button, and you never have to hear it again. Like it and want to hear more songs like it? Press the thumbs up button. Who knows, you might find your next favorite song on Pandora.
Deezer
Deezer works a lot like Spotify, but it has an even bigger library of music. Whereas Spotify has over 30 million tracks in its library, Deezer has over 53 million. That’s more than enough to keep anyone busy. And like Spotify, it’s also available for free. One drawback to the free subscription plan is that you can’t skip to a different part of a song once it starts playing.
Genius
Genius isn’t a music streaming service, but this lyrics website can be useful. Whether you’re wondering about a song’s deeper meaning or just having a hard time hearing the words, you can look it up on Genius.
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