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salmonella
Lokahi
240 Posts |
 Posted - 08/24/2011 : 05:44:48 AM
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I am beginning to look into setting up some regular times to play at local assisted living or senior center facilities.
If anyone has any suggestions on instrumental slack key music selections (I dont sing) that work best for this sort of thing or any other ideas on how to make the best of this, I would appreciate the input.
thank you
Dave
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Allen M Cary
Lokahi
USA
158 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2011 : 07:53:50 AM
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Aloha Dave,
I am partial to Nahenahe style pieces ala Keola Beamer such as He Punahele, Pua Lililehua, E Ku'u Morning Dew. I haven't played at an assisted living facility, but I did play this last weekend at a Rotary Fundraiser where there were several denizens of such facilities who plunked themselves down next to me to hear the music for the entire set. They were very appreciative of the play list. The overall event was a wine tasting, so an ambient background was appropriate. FYI here is a partial play list:
It was not all slack key--I threw in a Tommy Emmanuel and two Leo Kottke pieces
(Haba Na Haba, Jesu and The Theme from the Rick and Bob Report)
Slack Key included:
He Punahele (Beamer)
Pua Lililehua (Beamer)
Aloha No'o Honolulu (my own arrangement)
Hi'ilawe (Landeza)
Sano'e (Beamer)
Roselani Blossoms (Beamer)
Puka Pants (Beamer)
Ua Noho Au 'Akupa (Kevin Brown)
Koke'e (my arrangement after Ka'apana)
E Ku'u Morning Dew (Beamer)
and a couple of original compositions
Hope this gets you started and good luck
Aloha
Allen |
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sirduke58
`Olu`olu
USA
993 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2011 : 2:07:36 PM
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Hey Dave
Brah kudos to you for volunteering your time to bringing some enjoyment to the often times forgotten members of our society. Me & a couple of my friends played at a hospice and more important than the song selection was the volume. The nurse made us aware of it. As for the seniors I'd ask them as I went along. Some may be hard of hearing while others may be overly sensitive to the volume. Again song selection should matter very little. The nahenahe stuff will be definitely be soothing while the uptempo/upbeat songs will translate to "Happy" songs. As you know there's never enough happiness in these peoples lives. Go for it Bruddah Dave play all your slack key for them |
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thumbstruck
Ahonui
USA
2177 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2011 : 4:08:29 PM
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| After visiting my aunt, I told the staff that at least they should make a laptop available for YouTube for a while. Musical stimulation could onlly help. Good on you, Allen! Live music is best! |
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salmonella
Lokahi
240 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2011 : 5:23:22 PM
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Great info. thank you.
Allen, I really got a couple good ideas from your list.
Very perceptive Duke, on the volume. I had not thought of that. I will be sure to ask and look for signs that it is too soft or too loud.
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hikabe
Lokahi
USA
358 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2011 : 11:00:48 AM
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I play at senior care homes all the time. They want up beat stuff. For every one slow song play 3 fast songs. I usually do all upbeat stuff with one or two slow songs. But they request Pearly Shells, Tiny Bubbles, Blue Hawaii, Wedding Song, Aloha Oe, Five Foot Two, Lovely Hula Hands, Hukilau. I throw in You Are My Sunshine and This Land Is Your Land because they love to sing. They like era music that they recognize and don't really care for a lot of the songs on Allens list. Those are great songs for fans of Hawaiian music. But boring to anybody else who don't know the story behind the song. If you don't sing, they don't appreciate songs like Pua Lililehua as an instrumental. When I first started doing senior homes I played Hiilawe, Ahulili, Pua Lililehua, Panini Pua Kea, Kokee, etc. Finally, a woman asked me if I knew any Hawaiian songs. I asked her what did she mean and she said Tiny Bubbles, Pearly Shells, Hukilau and songs like that. If you want to make them happy, be upbeat, sing the songs with Hawaiian words or play melodies they recognize. Also. There is always one or two ladies who love to dance. Invite them up. Also, fair warning! They are the most honest and vocal crowd to play for. They will let you know, good or bad, how you are doing. There is always one or two grouchy persons there. Win them over and you got it made.
Any way. That is my take on how to liven up the lives of people in these facilities. If you are going for soothing, relaxing entertainment, then Allens list is perfect.
Also. Please try to ask for a fee of some kind. Management will try to get away with anything. There is monies available for artist to bring their crafts to these places. You set a bad precedent for professionals if you volunteer your time. Hope you have much success.
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Stay Tuned... |
Edited by - hikabe on 08/25/2011 11:03:34 AM |
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salmonella
Lokahi
240 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2011 : 1:04:57 PM
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Wow Hiram
thank you so much for your perspective. It certainly sheds a different light on it for me. As I said, I don't sing, even english lyrics, certainly not Hawaiian lyrics.
Thank you also for your insight on the fee. Professional musicians have it tough enough without someone like me making it harder for them. I will keep it in mind if I ever learn to sing any 'hawaiian songs'.
Dave |
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basilking
Lokahi
125 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2011 : 1:25:21 PM
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My sis-in-law brings her uke to hospice & assisted living facilities. She's had experiences where Alzheimer's patients who're pretty vague will come OUT of it and be entirely PRESENT for a while during the music. There seems to be some alternate neurological connection [no scientist here] or something; a neighbor who's had brain-surgery says the ukulele becomes like a "divining rod" or "dowsing rod", we all like this analogy.
I've played at some facilities with her before; some Hawai`ian stuff, Christmas-time carols, etc. Am thinking to expand my involvement in this arena, thanks all for the interesting notes.
One remark from sis-in-law - "if possible use an instrument that's not too valuable; a lot of folks seem to respond when allowed to HOLD or try the instrument." Apparently she's had folks who seemed unresponsive but once were musicians begin to strum &/or actually try to play a bit. Guess this is an excuse that I can tell my Hawai`ian wife why I need to get a "beater" guitar... (^^,) |
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RWD
`Olu`olu
USA
850 Posts |
Posted - 08/26/2011 : 03:10:42 AM
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I play a regular gig at a med rehab/retirement home and it is for sure that you will need amplification because of hearing issues--not loud but at a very "present" level. I use a Roland AC60 for example.
The first response is more like what I would suggest. Keola Beamer melodies go well as do many of Ozzie Kotani's melodies. I also agree with Duke's comments. Also add comments and facts about the songs you play--talk to them about your music.
I have found, contrary to Hiram's experiences, that the nahenahe songs are what the older crowd likes best--I was actually told that by the residents.
Uptempo works well too as Hiram said, but in combination with something mellow either before or after.
So, I would recommend the reverse and go with 3 mellow/happy to one fast/uptempo.
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Bob |
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salmonella
Lokahi
240 Posts |
Posted - 08/26/2011 : 05:54:35 AM
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thank you Bob for some more very interesting perspective.
Maybe this situation is like so many others in music, tastes and situations vary so widely that there are many good answers and a few not so good matches between artist and audience.
What I am thinking now is that I may need to talk to the management of these facilities and try to match my style and ability to a situation where the audience will be receptive of it.
I know I do not have the repertoire nor talent to change to fit the expectations of whatever audience I end up with.
Please keep the comments coming though, I think we are all getting good info here.
Dave |
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salmonella
Lokahi
240 Posts |
Posted - 08/26/2011 : 06:07:00 AM
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Basilking
Good info on taking a less important guitar. Maybe what I would do is take a smaller body extra guitar along tuned to standard tuning and hand that to anyone that wanted to play since it is unlikely they would be able to deal with Taropatch or C wahine and it might frustrate them more than anything.
Dave |
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Bau
Lokahi
USA
226 Posts |
Posted - 08/27/2011 : 12:33:27 PM
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perhaps consider volentering and playing the nahenahe songs at a hospital, where need of the healing power of the music is especialy felt, than a senior center?
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basilking
Lokahi
125 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2011 : 07:36:23 AM
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I started playing @ Asst'd Liv'g facility because of family there. We'd do Xmas carols each year [sis-in-law on uke, me on gtr, us/diverse other family helping the sing-along]. I eventually collated/distilled a mass of different Xmas song-compilations into my idea of "best" songs/arrangements/key/ etc. I have this in Word & Pdf form, 25 songs w/lyrics & chords, another ver just lyrics to hand around. Happy to share if anyone wants copies.
This expanded as family worked in 2 hopsitals. We'd carol there too. Eventually [again initially family-related] began some hospice playing, mostly nahenahe slack-key instrumentals.
Am looking into a program the offers a certification as a "Music Therapist". Unsure I "need" certification but still exploring options. Seems like a reasonable "retirement career" to prep now for: share music, get modest income for pocket-money.
I've had similar reactions to Hikabe's experience. Not many hapa-haole tunes in my repertoire [though I do sing], figure I'll try to learn a few more. I prefer songs like "Koke`e", Hi'lawe", etc myself but a few more could be good[have added both slack-key & vocal vers of "Honolulu I Am Coming Back Again" for ex, a more "uptempo" option].
Also thinking to add more "standards" to my repertoire too; I don't sing "Misty", "Paper Moon" & such - only comp along with one of the Uncles when they go there. Feels appropriate to try and expand repertoire to accomodate diverse audiences. This dovetails with bringing several guitars so the standard-tuned one[for "standards..."] could be the "pass-around" guitar as Dave notes.
Appreciate all insights offered here. |
Edited by - basilking on 09/01/2011 07:39:31 AM |
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slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2011 : 07:58:44 AM
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| AS for standards, I heartily recommend "Dream a Little Dream of me". It's fun to play on the uke, in G, with the bridge in Eb. It's got a great message. Also "Our Love is Here to Stay". There are many others, but I can't think of them right now. |
keaka |
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Doug Fitch
Akahai
USA
80 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2011 : 09:39:06 AM
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| These are some of my favorite gigs! I'm so glad you all are talking about this. Sometimes the care coordinators have specified that they want up beat tunes because they don't want people falling asleep mid day. Just ask. Oldies are always appreciated as are originals. Aloha! |
Doug Fitch
fitchdoug @ yahoo.com
www.dougfitchmusic.com
http://youtube.com/user/dougfitchmusic |
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basilking
Lokahi
125 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2011 : 12:50:05 PM
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| Thanks, Jack! Uncle Danny plays uke/sings "Dream A Little Dream..." /I've accompanied him. I've about 2/3 of a guitar instrumental ver worked out that I should dust off & finish learning. Or maybe I just oughta finally learn to sing it, I dunno. For the purposes we're talking about in this thread it feels like maybe a good thing to have both an intsr AND vocal version of songs, depending on audience, care coordinators' request, etc. |
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assisted living / senior center question
