Wow! Another fantastic thread. I can only agree emphatically with the previous comments. I have used music to calm my own racing pulse ("music hath power to soothe the savage beast").

My partner in Texas had a father in law with severe dementia, but if you put his mandolin in his hands, & started playing his old favorites, before long he would come out of wherever-he-was and start to focus, and in a little bit he would join the other musicians and begin playing rather well for his advanced age. The rest of the time he was pretty much out-of-it.

My college folk group used to play in nursing homes and on hospital wards. We frequently saw people who were largely unresponsive to other stimuli clearly express their pleasure in our music.

Night Owl: You should also try to listen to the CD by Priscilla Herdman which has on it all the lullabies and children's songs; I think it is called "Star Dreamer." It may provide you with some additional good ideas. Its a truly wonderful CD for adult listening, as well.

Cheers, BK