The Tala Sound research project intends to study how Indian carnatic music can be used for healthcare purposes. We present here the results of the first phase of Tala Sound, which had two main goals: (1) to analyze how such a non-European music is received by an audience of demented elderly patients of European culture and (2), if this reception is positive, to compare the impact of this music on another audience, with no dementia disorders. In practice, the first part of this study involves offering patients with severe dementia simple listening sessions. Over a 3-month period, we observed, quantified and analyzed the behaviors of these patients when performing passive indoor listening of «talas», which are carnatic rhythms, with additional melodic sounds, used in classical South Indian music. The participation of the medical profession was fundamental during our musical tests for reasons of patient safety, operational facilitation and scientific relevance. Our study was accompanied and directed by a geriatrician from Paul Brousse hospital (France), who also guided us on the pathology of the various patients. The second test was organized in a Domitys-managed accommodation facility for independent seniors in Villeneuve-le-Roi (France).