About Joy of Song

There is a spark of joy in every human heart.
Music activates that spark. 
Singing brings people to life.



The 2014 documentary “Alive Inside” illustrates the power of music to bring people to life. A physician in the film comments that he does not have at his disposal any drug that has as positive an effect as music. He says that medicine cannot reach the heart and soul of people, but music can. And it is much more cost-effective. 

Joy of Song's purpose is to use this proven power of music to:
  • Open hearts
  • Awaken vitality
  • Elevate health and well-being
  • Soothe and reassure
  • Support the flow of emotions, from grief and sorrow to joy
  • Encourage expression
  • Develop resonance among people
  • Create and share transcendent moments



See the power of music to bring someone to life in this clip from the film 'Alive Inside.'
For more information on this film and the associated project, see www.musicandmemory.org.
Who We Are
Joy of Song is directed by Sara Snyder, who earned her M.A. in World Music from Wesleyan University and has performed as a vocalist for more than thirty years. 

Sara founded Joy of Song in 2015 to bring the proven benefits of group singing to Pioneer Valley communities. The goal of her work is to lift spirits, spark memory, activate expression, and foster community. She currently leads group sings at senior centers in Amherst, Bernardston, Hadley, Northampton, and Sunderland as well as The Arbors at Greenfield. She encourages participants to choose from her repertoire of 750+ popular songs, including folk, country, jazz, showtunes, and Latin. 

Sara has developed a particular passion for bringing the power of music to memory care patients and their caregivers. She currently hosts a popular weekly "Happy Hour" at the Rockridge Gardens Memory Care Unit and leads musical Memory Cafés at the Amherst, Greenfield, Hadley, Hampden and Northampton Senior Centers. 
  Sara Snyder
Where We Operate
Joy of Song is based in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and regularly serves neighboring communities including Amherst, Belchertown, Conway, Easthampton, Greenfield, Hadley, Holyoke, Montague, Northampton, Northfield, South Hadley, Springfield, Sunderland, Whately. Sara also travels to other states and plays wherever she goes.

Sara brings the Joy of Song to schools, community centers, senior centers, libraries, healthcare facilities, and also private homes.