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Location: Yucaipa, California | You all will probably start to be annoyed with me because I’ll bring this topic up at least twice each year. To me it’s just that important especially at this time of year!
I know there are many Members here who play in public, but many more who only play in their own home. To all of you, my suggestion is this:
Contact the Activities Director at a local Convalescent Home and offer to play (for free) for the Residents. Put together a program for them. It can be as simple as a single guitarist playing or as involved as a multi-member group playing/singing with a PA system, etc.
I’m the director for my Church’s Elder Care Music Ministry and we play the Rest Home gig each month and it is one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had.
Our group is rather eclectic: 4 or 5 guitars, 1 mandolin, 1 bass, keyboard, banjo, French Horn, kazzoos, tambourine and singers! We even have a 10 minute “sermonette”! We play many of the old favorite Hymns and our program lasts about 1 hour. When finished, we go into the hallways/rooms and play for those who are bedridden and couldn’t make it over to the program.
The joy on the faces of these dear folks is indescribable! The blessing is enormous!
Please, consider something like this in your area. Either do it alone, or find some friends and make it big! It will be the best gig you could ever imagine!
When I look out at their faces when we are “in full flight” playing a song and I know that they have forgotten their condition and where they are, even for a moment, my heart soars!
Try it! You’ll like it!
Beats an "Open Mic" night any time! |
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Posts: 1180
Location: Vermont USA | Tim you are so right |
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Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Someday, (not too long for some of us!) it'll be US in there. If we set the example for our budding young musicians, maybe they will come play for US when we're old(er). |
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Location: Yucaipa, California | ....yup. And instead of WWII "Oldies" songs, they will be playing our "Oldies" by Zep, Floyd etc! |
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Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | I hope. I'm afraid they'll play some headbanger stuff and it will be so loud I'll be able to hear it and won't be able to leave. |
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Posts: 2246
Location: Yucaipa, California | ...back on topic: This really is a terrific outreach, especially during the Holidays. They especially love the little kids singing Christmas Carols..... |
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Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | I was hoping to do that this year with my "Old" trio, but, we broke up. I would need a "voice" to play with. :( |
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Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | No Bob, all you need is the chords to a few Christmas songs and enough of a voice to start the first few words. Believe me, they will take over the singing. |
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Posts: 7232
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I don't want this to drift off topic, but I feel very strongly that it's a travesty that "especially at this time of year!" must be added to this suggestion. If you are the type of person that likes to do this sort of thing, I would hope it's being done ALL year.
While I have never spent much time in or near a Convalescent home (and never will) I can't imagine how sad a place it must be between mid-January and late November while all the "feeling-guilty-once-a-year-do-gooders" are no longer around.
Again, I mean no offense to those who already like to do this sort of thing. I think it's great that you can give of yourself like this. To those that may decide to make themselves feel better cause they don't do anything else and feel guilty about it... I suggest you offer your services at some other random time of the year, so you can remain feeling guilty, but at least provide a few smiles to those that need it in the process.
Bottom line again.. I just seems a sad commentary that "especially at this time of year!" must be added to such a seemingly important gesture. |
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Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | Originally posted by Mr. Ovation:
While I have never spent much time in or near a Convalescent home (and never will) Uh oh, that's the "kiss of death" |
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Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Miles, you are right about "this time of year". As a matter of fact, the folks up here at Castle Manor have mentioned how grateful they are to have so much entertainment for their patients throughout the year. Some of them have worked in places where the holidays are indeed the only time some of those folks get any attention from family members.
But, by the same token, there are quite a few who cannot volunteer during the year because of their work schedules. At the hollidays, they usually have more time off. And no matter WHEN you do it, it really is a good thing. And while most if not all rest homes have an entertainment budget, if "we" do it for free, the homes can spend your portion of their budget hiring someone else to come in and play during the non-holiday season. |
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Location: Yucaipa, California | Miles,
We do have a program at the Convalescent home each month and have been doing it for almost 8 years. When the Holidays come around, we ramp up and do a bit extra.
My point was to get out and share with someone else the musical talent(s) we each have. These folk have very little to look forward to and the Holidays are especially hard.
Taking the thought that playing Holiday music for them is far easier than a regular gig and is a perfect opportunity for children to participate, I thought would encourage those who are reticent about playing out.
"especially at this time of the year"? Yes. But not ONLY this time of the year. If you search my threads, you'll find that I generally post this "reminder" twice a year. ;) |
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Posts: 1483
Location: Michigan | three weeks ago when my father passed i had to make the hardest decision of my life and that was to put my mother in a nursing home.she has alztimers and dementia and does nothing but cry and wonder why she is in this kind of place.
well last saturday my wife wheeled her into an area that had a man playing an accordion.she instantly stopped crying and became receptive to his playing.we all forgot but her father used to play an accordion and it sparked a good temporary memory for her.she was at peace and happy for a few minutes.its amazing how theraputic music can be so i applaud all of you who will volunteer some time and your talents for doing that.
it does make a difference.GWB |
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Posts: 7232
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | (Alison and Tim)
Yep.. I get the reason and Tim I know you do stuff all rear round... but at the same time I think it's sad the reason exists... that we have to add the "especially this time of year", and we (you) DO have to add it. Just wish we didn't.
Kinda like raving about good service at a restaurant. Why is good service so rare that we have to rave about it when we stumble on it. Just a sad fact/statement on mankind that's all.
So in short, back on topic...... I too think it's very cool that people take the time to do this sort of thing... at the same time it saddens me that those that can, have to be reminded to do it, or be reminded that certain times of the year are rougher than others, or even in fact that certain times of the year ARE rougher than others...
Just sharing... we now return you to your regularly scheduled posting... :) |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Tim shames me with all of his reminders and I've made minimal efforts to get lined up with nursing home activities directors before. (My neice was one, but they didn't want me.)
This time was timely. A local activity director just posted on Craigslist for musicians and I bit the bullet and responded. I haven't heard back yet, so we'll see. Since most of the musicians that frequent Craigslist here are the headbanger types, I doubt she was overwhelmed with volunteers, but if she was, that's good too. |
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Location: Yucaipa, California | Very cool Mark!
....Thanks Miles. We're on the same page.
GWB: That's exactly the reason we do it. :) |
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October 2009
Posts: 22
Location: Novi, MI | That is a great idea and I will be doing it this season and will try to make it a more regular event.
Wow, never thought of it, but it makes sense. Great idea. I will talk to my group and maybe do a few of these per year. |
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Location: Yucaipa, California | :D :cool: :D |
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Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | OFC #4
Ohh Yeah Baby!!!!!
I owe SWMBO Big Time! |
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March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Sorry, the time lapsed before I had a chance to add this: I am giving concerts monthly to the three nursing homes in the area: what a gift to give and a gift to listen to the remarks of the folks who are residents...they just love it...and they love the Adamas guitars that I play...I always get questions about them and they are so enamored by the beauty of both the guitars and the sound. It doesn't matter how well you play or how few songs you know: they will love it and you will get a blessing just looking at and experiencing their reactions...Music truly does make the world a better place (thanks John Pearce strings for that)...
And the OFC II will be featured from now on! |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Yes, I suppose all this is good and appreciated.
If I ever wind up in a place like that I will cut the kids out of the will. They know this, it's been well discussed
If someone were to come in and start playing Led Zep oldies I'd strangle them with the catheter tube.
Sorry to be negative. |
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February 2008
Posts: 747
| I rather doubt that my set list would go over well at all - far too many songs about busted motors and broken windshields etc. plus I'm not about to start learning White Christmas or Jingle Bells at this stage of my life.
Be more useful if I just shoveled the snow of some old person's driveway. |
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January 2006
Posts: 1483
Location: Michigan | please just keep on playing for the old folks, it means so much to them , that playing a 60's who song is like playing a 1930's song to them.they come into a different state of mind when you do a song for them.i know it doesn't make sense for allot of you but when ( if ) you do have to go through this , it will give them a moment of happy ness for just a minute, and that is worth a day of happy ness for me and the family ... GWB |
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March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Beal, I don't think its being negative: the thought of you doing that is hilarious...
Even if you just visit and talk...you have made their day as GWB said... |
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August 2003
Posts: 2246
Location: Yucaipa, California | GWB: I think I've told this story before, but here it is again.
My wife and I along with another couple had just finished playing our "gig" at Heritage Gardens Convalescent Home when the Head Nurse for the Alzheimer's Unit asked us if we would play/sing for a gentleman who was just admitted and who was in a deep state of Alzheimer's; totally unresponsive.
We agreed and went to his room. He was in a semi-fetal position on the little sofa and didn't know we were there. We picked a rather obscure hymn that had several verses and launched right into it. After two or three verses, suddenly there was another male voice singing (quite well too) along with us. We looked and saw him standing behind us and singing for all he was worth. He sang all the remaining verses with us perfectly without looking at the song books.
When we finished the song, he slowly walked back to the sofa and once again curled into the semi-fetal position; totally unresponsive.
The nurse was dumbfounded, as were we. Nevertheless, there was something about the music that got through to him and took him to a pleasant place for a few minutes.
That experience convinced me of the power of music to impact those who cannot be reached by other methods.
Are Convalescent Homes pleasant places to visit? Most times no. Are the residents happy? Most times no. Is it worth the effort to play/sing a few songs for them? Completely. |
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