Akron Life May 2022

FOREVER YOUNG

Tune In Here are ways music can help older adults boost their well-being. Always On Staying engaged with a musical hobby is important for older adults. “There is a lot of research that shows music is beneficial with older adults, especially with memory loss,” says Ellen Antes, a board certified music therapist at the Groovy Garfoose in Stow. “Music is processed in the deeper parts of our brain that are not as affected by Alzheimer’s and dementia.” Music can also provide social connection, such as when Antes does musical activities with eight to 10 nursing home residents. “Staff members will say, They never partici pate in anything ,” Antes explains. “Then that person will say, I had so much fun. ” Personal Rhythm Recorded or live, complex lyrics or simple rhythms — listening to any music is helpful. Older adults often respond positively to music that was popular during their teen age years, Antes says. “That’s when your core memories are made,” she says. “It’s not music from now that peo ple are able to sing back to me. It’s music that was popular in the ’40s and ’50s.” Bop Around Oftentimes, older adults don’t have access to instruments, so Antes enjoys providing maracas and tambourines to nursing home residents. She also facilitates easy songwrit ing exercises, where older adults can fill in lyrics with any word they want. “There’s no mistakes. There’s no getting frustrated,” she says. “It’s an opportunity for them to be successful.” Singing or playing an instrument helps both the body and mind, while providing a creative outlet. “Music is so emotional for a lot of people and is attached to a lot of memories,” Antes says. “It also releases all those happy chemicals in the brain — dopamine, sero tonin. To be able to provide that naturally

She stuck around for next year’s show, “The Threepenny Opera,” serving as the orchestra conductor in the pit, which was just her on piano and drummer W. Scot Sexton. She became musical director for Weathervane in the late 1960s, and she taught the singers and conducted the musicians in the pit — and of course, still played piano. “By how I conducted something, you can actually guide people,” she says. “Loved it.” One of her most memorable shows at Weathervane was “Chicago,” in which she and seven other musicians played the entire show up on the catwalk above the stage. “That thing used to sway. But it was great for the show,” she says. How did she feel about her piano being that high up? “The sound level was wonderful, but you would never get me to do that again,” she says, laughing. Another favorite was “1776,” about the signing of the Declaration of Independence. “It was a big show,” she says. “The music was fun to do, and

the cast was fun to work with.” Weathervane continued to provide a steady stream of music to teach and performances to run. Michael did about two shows with Weathervane each year, and by the time the curtain closed dur ing her last show in 1992, she had been in 50-plus productions. Now a plaque in the Weathervane lobby dedicates the pit to Michael and Sexton. She gave her piano to her grandson and now “noodles” on her electric key board, playing her favorites by Dave Brubeck, a contemporary song stuck in her head or a ditty she writes her self. Although she spent her entire life engulfed in music, playing for crowd after crowd, training with world-class composers and mentoring younger musicians, she now plays alone. Eighty-four years ago, she sat down at a piano for the first time. And through music, she found herself. “It’s mine,” she says passionately. She returns to the bench and plays for herself.

is really important.” groovygarfoose.com

[ Assistant Editor Alexandra Sobczak is passionate about inclusivity, correct grammar and pop music. ]

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