General Chat

I did something I haven't done for over 30 years!!

I used to play piano in a band...had some fab times.
After looking after my husband who was housebound for over 5 years and not getting out,I decided that after he passed away almost 3 years ago that I wouldn't sit around and mope.
Happened to meet someone at the carers meeting I went to who had played in the same circuit I had over 50 yrs ago.we have been practising for about a year and gained some othe musicians

We have played our first gig this afternoon at a new style sheltered home...was a bit nervous at first,but really enjoyed it ...and so did they....we are playing there again at the 3 rd anniversary of this complex opening .this is in 4 weeks time.

Funny thing is....the total age of the 5 of us is 402....and we were playing to some who were a lot younger than us.

The worst part was the loading and unloading as nowhere has a piano these days .and I bought a new digital professional piano,but it still has to be transported.
Could do with a roadie......any offers? :-D :-D

good for you Brenda - well done - wish I could play the piano!!!!

What a wonderful thing to do Brenda, I admire your attitude :-D :-D

I would be a roadie, but would only break something, proper clumsy me :-(

Nice one Brenda, watch out one Direction :-D

Although Kitty says she can't be your roadie, she could be your cook :-D

I could indeed................I can do soup, sometimes even tasty soup.

:-D :-D

Oh Girls....we're nothing like One Direction......possibly Michael Buble sort of music without the lovely voice.
We chose tunes they could sing along to...and we all sang along.....some got up with their wheeled zimmers and tried to dance...did play a bit of jazz.A few Happy Birthdays.....they asked when we could go back....
We are just doing this in a voluntary way,but it's satisfying to know we are making them happy.
Tell you what...it's a lovely complex....might put my name down!!! :-S :-S

Good for you and I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Even when day-to-day memory fades, many people can remember songs and enjoy singing along.

Gwyn

Well done, Brenda,

nothing like a good ole sing song.........I expect the requests have changed, in my day the "oldies" wanted stuff like 'its a long way to Tipperary" and "my mothers eyes"

one old dear was Vera Lynn's Aunt( or so she claimed) and Guess whose songs SHE wanted to sing.......

Well done you Brenda and your pals.

Didn't you used to play for a blind person to accompany you or something?

I have mentioned before my late Uncle Bob (by marriage - Rob Aldous) who played well into his 80s and beyond and used to take his keyboard along to old folks' homes to play and sing for them. He was very popular and did it for a long time. It always made me laugh that he was entertaining people younger than he was lol

He also did a stint as a pianist in a Benidorm bar when he got bored on a long winter holiday, said he earned enough to buy silk shirts and posh shoes to take home with him. At that time he was in his late 80s I believe and said he got bored because there were no ladiesabout that he fancied taking up with. His third wife had just died and it was before he met his last lady love.

He entertained troops in the war and wrote a book about his life, which I have somewhere. He worked at a printing works when he returned to England, married three times (outlived all the wives) and had a lady friend when he died of throat cancer, in 2005 when I think he was in his early 90s

Keep up the good work Brenda, what a lovely way to get out and about.

Lizxx

Well done Brenda
It must be so satisfying using your skills whilst enjoying playing to an appreciative audience. Memories of Mrs Mills, long may you all continue.


I wish I could play a musical instrument.

That is lovely Brenda, so good to hear of a home that encourages entertainment with entertainment.

Have to say that this was no ordinary sheltered accommodation .
Is a new concept of elderly care.
It is in a secure very modern building....in this one there are about 50 apartments,mainly 2 bedroom and a few 1 bedroom...all your own furniture,sitting room kitchen bathroom etc.
There is a treatment room,hairdressers ,function room,quiet room,storage for mobility scooters and gar ageing for cars,restaurant,it's a really nice environment.
I went talking to a lot of the people in the interval,where they went round with drinks and cake and they were all very happy.they have their own space and can cook own meals...or can go to restaurant and have a really good hot meal for £5.

One lady said she had a new cooker when she moved in,but has never used it ...has a flower arrangement on it!.if they feel like having a chat they can go to a communal room and find someone to talk to.

Of course it doesn't cater for nursing care for bedridden,but it is a far nicer way of looking after yourself.I spoke to a 91 year old who still drives her own car and has a lot of friends around her.

We have another one that's just opened a bit nearer to me and one about 12 miles away just being built.......it's a thought as we get older. :-)


By the way..Liz....the blind chap is the trombonist in the band.he lives alone in a big house...that's where we practise.
Some ladies asked me which one was my husband ...I said I live alone.they had paired me off with the clarinettist...don't know what his wife would say!!

WELL DONE IT PROVES MUSIC IS AGELESS.
HAVE FUN XX

Sounds wonderful Brenda,

Well done to you and your 'band mates'. When my late MIL was in care, she really enjoyed musical entertainment. As you say, the old time music really strikes a cord with most.

I can't play any instruments but love music, I warble along to the radio, albeit badly. Good for the soul. :-)

I also like the sound of the care home you visited.

Well done Barbara! Glad you enjoyed yourself helping others' enjoy themselves :-D :-D :-D

Oh it's nice that you are both helping to cheer up others Brenda. Lucky your friend has a good place for you to practise too.

Keep up the good work and take note if you visit other such places so you can vet them all and choose your favourite and get your name down.

Lizxx

Good for you. I have played the piano,not to a high standard I hasten to add,and often wish I could find someone to share playing duets but I don't know anyone who can or would be interested .A couple of months ago I took up the ukulele and joined a group,not that I have been invited yet to play at their gigs for the older generation but I have taken to it like a duck to water and can use my music knowledge to understand playing this instrument. Would advise anyone to learn an instrument, it is never too late and there is pleasure to be had.....not necessarily from the listener!

That's lovely Janet.keep on playing.
Shame about the duets ...if I lived near I would have a go with you?
I am classically trained from age 7 to 19.
I was made to practise for an hour every day by my mother and gained my associate then Licenciate cap and gown at age 19.
My parents weren't that happy when I joined a jazz band,as my then husband was a jazz trumpeter.
Didn't like the music at first,but learned to love it and played a lot of famous places and even radio and TV.
Haven't played a lot in the last few years,,,but as you say....never too late