Music for the ages

We propose to explore the benefits of building new relationships through the medium of Music, with the seniors at the local nursing home in an effort to lessen the ever widening generation gap. Music allows us to connect and communicate with one another without the use of dialogue. We would share the joy of inter-generational music making in the form of, students playing rehearsed songs to the seniors, singing and asking the seniors to join in.

Update (June 21, 2011)

We finally received our instruments just before Easter. The students were excited to see the box and they tried guessing what instruments could be inside. We made a list and ventured to open the box. Some of the instruments they've never seen before and others they had. We experimented with their sounds and how their sounds are produced. Some of their favourites were the egg shakers, and boom whackers...fun and simple.

The students further worked with the instruments to keep beat of a song or even poem, soundscapes to go along with a particular piece of text and of course we played together as a group. We decided to take the Boom Whackers and work with them to create musical pieces to present. They are easy enough to teach as they are just coloured tubes. So teaching them to read music would be as simple as reading the colours on a staff. They were new to us and they would be even newer to the residents at Fairview Manor when we go to present. We will see how the residents respond to these new instruments.

Update (January 26, 2012)

June 27, 2011

The students were extremely excited that they were heading over to the Manor today. They were equipped with their instruments (drums, shakers, triangles and Boom Whackers). Not only have they been enjoying using the instruments, they were teaching others how to use them.

We did our presentation to the residents of the Manor and they just beamed when they saw the students coming in. We did a short explanation, explaining to them what we had been doing for the last couple of months and that they would be getting treated to some different music- songs of which they would all know and that they would also be getting an opportunity to try out some of the instruments with the students.

The presentation was a success and the students really enjoyed interacting with the residents. Somehow music brings the ages together, so it doesn't matter if you're 7 or 70 it's always fun to play an instrument.