PROGRAM OFFERINGS FOR SENIORS 2024

This 1-hour program begins with roots music (old-time country, spirituals and blues) and evolves into bluegrass and rock. Be prepared to get "all shook up" and play some rhythm instruments. Beth looks forward to sharing the connection and uplift of music with residents.  

BENEFITS - residents are transported into the land of music where life's daily trials and tribulations drop away and they are uplifted and enlivened with melody and rhythm; familiar tunes invoke connection to a deep, inner level of consciousness

This 1-hour blues music program introduces residents to the legacy of blues songs, blues music stories, and famous blues musicians. I'll play for the residents and invite them to participate in call-and-response songs, play shakers and clap with the music. 

BENEFITS - residents are transported into the land of music where life's daily trials and tribulations drop away and they are uplifted and enlivened with melody and rhythm; familiar tunes invoke connection to a deep, inner level of consciousness 

You pick the era (50’s, 60’s, 70’s) and I’ll bring the tunes. In this 1-hour program I'll invite residents to sing along and become part of the band with rhythm instruments.  

BENEFITS - residents are transported into the   land of music where life's daily trials and tribulations drop away and they   are uplifted and enlivened with melody and rhythm; familiar tunes invoke   connection to a deep, inner level of consciousness

This 1-hour country music program introduces residents to country music songs, country music stories, and famous country musicians. I'll play for the residents and invite them to sing   familiar songs and participate with rhythm instruments.   

BENEFITS - residents are transported into the land of music where life's daily trials and tribulations drop away and they are uplifted and enlivened with melody and rhythm; familiar tunes invoke connection to a deep, inner level of consciousness

This 1-hour program shares songs of the heart. I'll invite the residents to clap, sing and practice heartmath, a simple, research-based technique for activating the rest-and-digest (parasympathetic) nervous system, by putting one’s hand on the heart.   BENEFITS - residents are transported into the land of music where life's daily trials and tribulations drop away and they are uplifted and enlivened with melody and rhythm; familiar tunes invoke connection to a deep, inner level of consciousness; Heartmath creates a cascade of uplifting biochemicals that activates the parasympathetic nervous system simply by putting one’s hand on the heart and taking deep breaths 

BENEFITS - residents are transported to the land of music where life's daily trials and tribulations drop away and they are uplifted and enlivened with melody and rhythm; familiar tunes invoke connection to a deep, inner level of consciousness; Heartmath creates a cascade of uplifting biochemicals that activates the parasympathetic nervous system simply by putting one’s hand on the heart and taking deep breaths

This 1-hour program shares Irish songs and Irish music history. I'll invite the residents to clap, sing and tap their toes as we celebrate Irish folklore. (Add a live fiddle player for an additional $99)  

BENEFITS - residents are transported into the land of musical Ireland where life's daily trials and tribulations drop away for awhile and they are uplifted and enlivened with melody and rhythm 

This 1-hour program shares patriotic music of the US with residents. Great for Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day and Fourth of July. I'll invite members of the armed forces to stand or raise their hands at the appropriate time.

BENEFITS - residents get to hear familiar songs of the United States and connect with their personal history and the history of our country: familiar tunes invoke connection to a deep, inner level of consciousness

This 1-hour program offers a breath of spring or summer to your residents. It’s a nice pick-me-up and antidote to the gray/gloomy weather that can dominate northeast Ohio skies. I’ll invite   residents to clap, sing, tap their toes and even play an instrument. Please let me know if you want to do the program outside when booking. 

BENEFITS – residents are transported into sunshine and blue skies where life's daily trials and tribulations drop away for a while and they are uplifted and enlivened with melody and rhythm 

This 1-hour program offers residents an opportunity to swing and smile with jazz favorites. I’ll invite residents to sway in their chairs and play simple percussion instruments.

BENEFITS – residents have fun singing, swaying and playing and are transported to the land of music where life's daily trials and tribulations drop away, and they are uplifted and enlivened with melody and rhythm

This 1-hour program of traditional Christmas favorites will bring cheer and holiday spirit to your space. I'll invite the residents to clap, sing and tap their toes and put their hands on their hearts to get in touch with the heart of the season.

BENEFITS - residents are transported into the land of music where life's daily trials and tribulations drop away and they are uplifted and enlivened with melody and rhythm; familiar tunes invoke connection to a deep, inner level of consciousness; heartmath creates a cascade of uplifting biochemicals that activates the parasympathetic nervous system simply by putting one’s hand on the heart and taking deep breaths

This 75/90-minute program is a guided, group songwriting program. Ideal for independent living.

We begin by getting to know each other and sharing what we LOVE about a good song. Then we choose a topic to write about that allows everyone to participate. We choose a melody from a familiar song like “Goodnight Irene” or “You are My Sunshine.” I sing the melody with guitar accompaniment. Then we explore with our heads and our hearts and brainstorm new lyrics to the song. 

We arrange the lyrics as a group and create a song with the familiar melody and new lyrics. Thus, "Goodnight Irene" might turn into "Goodnight Covid."  Residents might share their frustrations about lockdown or sorrow about isolation, etc. We write one song per session. At the end of the session we sing the new song back to the residents. After the program I'll type and email the song lyrics and send with a photo of all the participants. You can print and distribute to each resident to have as a keepsake and memento of their accomplishment. Residents are always welcome to sing, hum, clap, dance and/or observe. The flow of the process is subject to change based on the group's unique needs and abilities.

BENEFITS: social and emotional connection with a community, relationship-building, healthy expression of feelings through word/song/rhythm, shared creative unity and meaning-making, a sense of accomplishment

This is a 3-week series we explore different percussive sounds and vocal toning as a way to express our feelings. For instance we may drum our fingers on a table, clap, tap our feet, clink a spoon on a glass. We may hum or moan or laugh. We will practice simple rhythms and sounds and explore tempo (speed) and dynamics (loudness/softness). We'll channel sounds to express anger, joy, peace, disappointment, solitude, fun, humor, etc. Finally, we'll create a soundscape of percussion similar to a drum circle at the end of each session. The culminating event on session 3 will include residents choosing their favorite sounds in a group performance/composition. Residents are always welcome to sing, hum, clap, dance and/or observe. The flow of the process is subject to change based on the group's unique needs and abilities.

REQUIRED from the institution - 2 spoons and an empty coffee mug or hard plastic cup

for each participating resident each time; residents must be sitting at tables so they don’t have to hold their instruments 

BENEFITS: social and emotional connection with a community, relationship-building, expressing oneself creatively through music, practicing gross and fine motor skills, noticing and expressing   feelings, asserting one's agency to express as an individual and a part of a group, satisfaction of creating music together.

Includes weekly 60-min sessions with residents, assembling residents' lyrics into meaningful songs after each program (to be shared the following week), and a printed booklet of all the famous songs and the new songs we write together that will be delivered at the sixth session. Ideal for independent and assisted living residents. Not satisfying for memory care residents.

In this 6-week series we explore different blues. pop or country musicians and take famous songs from that genre and write new lyrics to them. (The AD will choose which style of music   -- blues, pop, country -- is a good fit for the residents.) We  begin each class with the same theme song that's introduced on week 1. Each successive week I introduce a new song and a new musician. I  teach residents about that musician by telling stories about him or her. (If you have a DVD projector I could also share photos of that person.) Weeks 2, 3, 4  and 5 we write new songs together. On week 6 I play all of the famous songs  and the new songs we've written together. Residents are always welcome to sing, hum, clap and dance. 

BENEFITS - social and emotional connection with a community; stimulating mental faculties through dialogue, wordsmithing, and recall; relationship-building with other residents and the instructor; play, creative expression via words and music; sense of accomplishment 

For residents AND please consider a separate class for YOUR STAFF 

NOTE: Yoga DOES NOT REQUIRE FLEXIBILITY for participation, a common misnomer. Yoga requires each practitioner to have an open mind and listen to his/her body. Yoga is a   laboratory, so to speak, for learning about your body, mind and heart. My classes teach residents and staff members healthy posture, how to breathe deeply and how to connect with their bodies. 

60 minute sessions available in an 8 or 12-week series tailored to residents' or staff's needs and movement patterns

BENEFITS - less pain, better posture while sitting/moving/lifting, a calmer body and brain, an attuned heart, awareness of stress and the skills to shift into a state of calm with breath and   movement