Who makes up the chorus of Sentimental Journey Singers and Melody Makers, and how did these choir offerings come to be?
Sentimental Journey Singers is a community chorus for people with early to mid-stage memory loss, their care partners, and volunteer singers. From Encore Creativity’s Arts for Life programs, which support people experiencing specific health challenges through communal arts-making experiences, Sentimental Journey Singers program sits alongside its Melody Makers program and makes up the organization’s choral offerings for older adults living with brain change.
Utilizing the expressive power and proven health benefits of music-making, participants stimulate voice/body/brain connections, harmonize with others in a joyous environment, and develop an artistic craft under the direction of professional teaching artists. In a space where all are seen, heard, and integral, the Sentimental Journey singers are provided the opportunity to connect and give back to their community through performance.
Melody Makers is an interactive music-based program designed for people experiencing mid to moderate stage memory loss in partnership with members of the greater community. Experienced teaching artists create a stimulating and joyous communal space where participants are guided to engage their voices, bodies, and spirits in arts-based activities.
Melody Makers provides an opportunity for participants to reconnect with memory, experience a sense of accomplishment, and live actively in the present moment through the scientifically proven powers of music.
Both programs are in alignment with Encore Creativity’s mission to create meaningful arts experiences supporting lifelong learning, wellness, and fun for all older adults.
Who initially inspired you to grapple with dementia?
We saw a need in our singers. Some were not returning because they had trouble keeping up in rehearsals or found the music too difficult. One singer was going to miss a concert because his wife was worried about him getting confused. We suggested that she sit right next to him during the concert.
We realized that if we wanted people to sing for life, we needed to design a choir that would support singers with cognitive change. Our Sentimental Journey Singers started in 2019 in partnership with Insight Memory Care Center, and our Melody Makers program was designed in collaboration with Goodwin Living.
How has working on dementia-related art changed you?
I came to Encore Creativity in 2018 as one of our Chorale conductors. At first, I thought it would be like any other choir I have worked with, but I quickly found out that Encore is much more than a chorus.
Encore is built on community and wellness for older adults. Singing is the vehicle used to accomplish this. When I began developing our Sentimental Journey Singers with our founder, I learned so much more about the strong connection between music, memory, and relationships. I also learned the importance of educating others about the health benefits of community singing.
Although I did not set out on a career specializing in working with older adults, it has become a passion. I am embracing my own aging experience and seeing the potential of life at all stages.
How have the Sentimental Journey and Memory Makers choirs been received?
We constantly receive feedback from our audiences that they are so amazed by the joy our Sentimental Journey Singers express in concerts and the joy they bring to the audience. After our first concert, one of our participants said with a big smile, “They clapped for us! They really liked us.”
It reminded me of the importance of everyone feeling worthy and having a sense of accomplishment. One caregiver who has been with us since the beginning of the group said, “I get to sing WITH my mom. I never thought I would be able to do that. I have my mom back for a time on Wednesdays.” Others have expressed that the choir has become another source of support.
This work is dedicated to:
Find more from Encore Creativity for Older Adults on the web, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Fall registration opens on July 16. More information on the website.
