This study aimed to examine the effects of an acoustic bass guitar–centered music therapy program on hand coordination and quality of life in patients with Parkinson’s disease. The participants were two patients aged 60 years or older who were cla...
This study aimed to examine the effects of an acoustic bass guitar–centered music therapy program on hand coordination and quality of life in patients with Parkinson’s disease. The participants were two patients aged 60 years or older who were classified as stage 2–3 on the Hoehn and Yahr scale. The program was conducted over a six-week period from early July to mid-August 2025 and consisted of 12 sessions, each lasting 40 minutes. The music therapy program focused on acoustic bass guitar performance and included finger training using chromatic melodies and preferred songs, as well as goal song completion and recording activities. Hand coordination was evaluated using the Box and Block Test. In addition, 16-note chromatic scale performances were recorded using a digital audio workstation (DAW), converted into MIDI data, and coded for analysis. The data were quantitatively analyzed using a deep learning–based method, and note intensity and note duration were visualized using Power BI. Changes in finger movements were also directly observed and analyzed by the researcher during the intervention process. Quality of life was assessed using the Parkinson’s Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire (PDQL) by comparing pre- and post-test scores, and qualitative analysis was conducted on participants’ non-musical expressive changes. The results indicated that participant B showed increased bilateral hand scores on the Box and Block Test, while participant A showed a decrease in left-hand performance. DAW-based analysis revealed that both participants demonstrated reduced variability and more evenly distributed patterns in note intensity and note duration as the sessions progressed. Observations further indicated expanded finger usage, suggesting improvements in hand coordination. PDQL results showed increased post-test scores for both participants, and qualitative findings revealed improvements in self-efficacy and motivation for rehabilitation. These results suggest that an acoustic bass guitar–centered music therapy program may be a useful intervention for improving hand coordination and quality of life in patients with Parkinson’s disease.