I have been playing the viola and keys in various settings for 35 years and I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember.  I love joining in music with all kinds of people.  While I have done multiple weddings, parties, and other special events, I am especially well-received where seniors and folks with special needs are found.  I have played at multiple venues in eight different counties in Michigan and I’m always excited to play at new places and meet even more lovely people! Residents have let me know that they love when I come because, in their words, I “play the music of their generation, and then some”.  I am an ordained pastor and know many hymns, which they love.  I also have the ability to learn songs quickly and to play by ear which opens the door to multiple songs of various genres. 

I worked in the care field doing activities for ten years and, because I’m musical, have done quite a bit of reading about how music affects the brain.  I believe that I will always be an activities professional at heart and is I am passionate about supporting staff in helping residents maintain their abilities for as long as possible.  As they say, “if you don’t use it you’ll lose it”, and studies have shown that more parts of the brain are used during music than with any other activity.  These include parts used in decision-making, math, language, movement, memory, communication, expressing emotions, and more. Singing supports the respiratory system, core and chest muscles, and other physical aspects that are important for overall well-being. It also releases dopamine and oxytocin, the chemical that bonds people to those around them in shared activities.  This helps to combat the depression and loneliness that can often run rampant with the elderly. 

In a nursing home setting, I will play a song on the viola and ask your group to guess what it is.  After playing I’ll encourage residents to sing with me. Staff are often tickled by how many seniors will engage in guessing songs and even singing, including people who don’t typically like to come out of their room and socialize or who are choosy about which entertainers they’ll listen to.  This, in combination with the aforementioned benefits of music, allow me to implement my personal goal, which is to support seniors in mind, body, and spirit.  Several people have believed me to be a music therapist, but I am simply an interested person with a heart to help by providing all the therapeutic benefits that music can bring.