April 23, 2025
We’re excited to share that Theraplaying was just featured on NBC Chicago News 5—a powerful story that’s shining a light on the difference music therapy is making for people living with Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders right here in Chicago.
The segment, titled “How Learning the Guitar is Helping Parkinson’s Patients at Northwestern,” follows Theraplaying founder James Lenger and Dr. Brian Cote, a person living with Parkinson’s, as they share what happens during one of their guitar therapy sessions.
If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s well worth a watch:
👉 Watch the full segment on NBC Chicago
Music Meets Movement
Theraplaying isn’t your typical music lesson. It’s a carefully designed therapeutic experience built around the unique needs of individuals with Parkinson’s and other movement disorders. With roots in both neuroscience and music education, the approach combines rhythmic motor work, fine motor skill development, and emotional wellness—all through the experience of learning guitar.
“I’m not just teaching music,” James shares in the segment. “I’m helping people reconnect with their bodies, their confidence, and even their joy.”
For those living with Parkinson’s, everyday movements can become increasingly difficult as the disease progresses. But music—and especially rhythm—has a unique ability to engage the brain in ways that help restore and stabilize movement. Studies are continuing to show that the combination of structured musical engagement and physical coordination can have lasting therapeutic effects.
A Local Program with National Promise
What began as one-on-one sessions in Chicago has started to grow into something much bigger. Theraplaying now partners with Northwestern University for research and development, exploring how this therapy model might become a standard of care for movement disorders. Early results are promising, and stories like Dr. Cote’s offer a glimpse into what’s possible when science, creativity, and compassion meet.
“We’re so grateful to NBC Chicago for telling this story,” says James. “And we’re even more excited about the future of Theraplaying.”
Want to Learn More?
If you or a loved one are living with Parkinson’s or another movement disorder, we’d love for you to learn more about Theraplaying. Whether you’re looking for individual sessions, group classes, or our upcoming online subscription platform, this is a community—and a method—built around support and possibility
🎸 Designed for people with Parkinson’s and movement challenges
📚 Backed by research at Northwestern University
We believe that healing can be joyful—and that music might just hold more power than we realize.
Thanks for cheering us on!
