Music therapy has a role in clinical gerontological nursing practice and also in research, with the broad aim being to improve the quality of the lived experience for people with dementia through a person-centred approach (Brooker, 2005). Individuals with dementia have a decreased ability to understand verbal language, yet receptive and expressive music abilities appear to remain even in the late stages of the disease process (Brotons and Koger, 2000). In conclusion, Vink (2000) argued that care approaches for older people with dementia should stimulate present abilities, focus on improving patients' and carers' quality of life, and reduce problematic behaviours. From a review of the current nursing literature, music therapy clearly serves all these goals and hence is a valuable commodity positively influencing the behaviour of elderly patients with dementia.