The activities in the community (which is a good place, in many ways) are in desperate need of better resourcing and imagination. I hope that my mother and other residents advocate for more live music.
You are a maker and bringer of joy! What a gift to everyone there and especially your mother; she must be so proud of you! Aren’t you glad you played that piano that wanted it’s key lid opened? ❤️🎶🎼🎵
And this experience was on top of my gig, earlier that week, with my friend Don at the Ronald McDonald House in Baltimore. That, too, was magical. I need to do more music-making for people who are suffering.
Wonderful story. Years ago, when my mother broke her hip and had to go to a convalescent center, she explicitly told me the place HAD to have a piano. I found a place, but the piano was in the memory care unit and I didn't want my mother going over there. She didn't care, didn't care that at first the people in the dining room said there was too much noise. She just went over there every day (powering herself in her wheel chair) and played, whatever she wanted. By the time four weeks were up, a funny thing happened. The residents all seemed to like her music and were glad she had played for them. I think administrators may forget how the fine arts (not arts and crafts, although I support these, too) bring great joy to people. There are poetry readings in memory care facilities, and the poems memorized in youth stay with us, even under the most difficult circumstances. Thank you, Phyllis, for this essay.
Off topic question....new to publishing and desperately need a tutorial on designing page...mine stinks and stuff just goes where it goes...I have no control.....any suggestions? Thanks.....Carol
How wonderful a gift you share there, Phyllis!! Bless.
And too bad the care home didn’t use the piano for the benefit of their residents in this way…hopefully you have led them by example.
The activities in the community (which is a good place, in many ways) are in desperate need of better resourcing and imagination. I hope that my mother and other residents advocate for more live music.
Absolutely beautiful! 😊
It was amazing to be part of it!
Touching and beautiful
You are a maker and bringer of joy! What a gift to everyone there and especially your mother; she must be so proud of you! Aren’t you glad you played that piano that wanted it’s key lid opened? ❤️🎶🎼🎵
And this experience was on top of my gig, earlier that week, with my friend Don at the Ronald McDonald House in Baltimore. That, too, was magical. I need to do more music-making for people who are suffering.
Wonderful story. Years ago, when my mother broke her hip and had to go to a convalescent center, she explicitly told me the place HAD to have a piano. I found a place, but the piano was in the memory care unit and I didn't want my mother going over there. She didn't care, didn't care that at first the people in the dining room said there was too much noise. She just went over there every day (powering herself in her wheel chair) and played, whatever she wanted. By the time four weeks were up, a funny thing happened. The residents all seemed to like her music and were glad she had played for them. I think administrators may forget how the fine arts (not arts and crafts, although I support these, too) bring great joy to people. There are poetry readings in memory care facilities, and the poems memorized in youth stay with us, even under the most difficult circumstances. Thank you, Phyllis, for this essay.
Wow, what a story! Thanks for sharing this, Ronnie. Might there be a poem in it somewhere?
I enjoyed that so much.
Off topic question....new to publishing and desperately need a tutorial on designing page...mine stinks and stuff just goes where it goes...I have no control.....any suggestions? Thanks.....Carol
crossingtopanga.substack.com
Check your email. :)
Joy....play it!
I will if you will! 😉
I love this!
Glad it spoke to you, Shelly!