Insights and information
about music, brain health, aging, and much more.
Good Memories—The First Five Weeks
It’s the beginning of October 2018. We’ve now held five rehearsals of the Good Memories choir. As many of you know, Good Memories is our new choral program for people with early-stage memory loss and their care partners, singing together in a choir along with a...
My Hearing Aid
Chapter 1: The Finger Rustle Last December, for some reason I can’t recall now, I rustled my fingers together with my right hand, near my right ear. I heard what I expected to hear: a high-pitched rustling sound, sort of like someone shushing me or saying...
Kindness
This is one of my two favorite t-shirts (the other has a dog and a cat sitting side-by side, under the word “Peace”). When I wear it, it gets its share of smiles and even the occasional comment – usually something like “Yeah, random acts of kindness!”. But no one...
Why Feelings Matter in Performing
My father of blessed memory was not the most emotional guy in the world. Nevertheless, he would almost invariably cry at hearing a beautiful piece of music. I think I learned from watching him (and hearing him play the piano, which he did with exquisite care) that...
Friendship in Older Adults
I recently flew up to Minnesota for a long girlfriend weekend with my best friend, Kate. My family and friends joke that her name is actually My Best Friend Kate because I never refer to her any other way. MBF Kate and I have been friends since graduate school,...
Inside a Composer’s Brain
One of the most fun parts of my job is selecting repertoire for our older-adult choirs to perform. I do this three times a year—with Linda Powell on our spring and fall sessions, and with Sandy on music for Summer Rocks. Those of you in the current session are now...