According to the National Center for Creative Aging, “the arts can serve as a powerful way to engage elders in a creative and healing process of self-expression, enabling them to create works that honor their life experience.” That organization’s Creative Aging Toolkit is designed to help leaders and program staff create programs that enhance the lives of older adults, helping them discover a new sense of purpose, collaboration, and community through music.
Great for tight percussion setups on stage, the Snare Conga Cajon sits in a lightweight, height-adjustable floor stand, and packs easily into a padded carrying case.
Choir directors, music teachers, composers, and music students all qualify. But, don’t sell yourself short. If you write songs, play in a band, or sing in a vocal group, even if you don’t know the first thing about staff paper, there’s a very good chance that one of these notation software programs could help you.
Growing up on R&B and “old school” country and western, Marty Shaughnessy, 43, lived in a household where the music never stopped. “My father constantly had the vinyl spinning,” says Shaughnessy, “and it was the backdrop for many of my childhood memories. It’s hard to think of a day without music.”
Finally, an all-in-one, lightweight, portable, and rechargeable PA system that delivers clean, crisp audio for small hall live performance, classrooms, tour groups, and parties, as well as a variety of outdoor applications.
For the pianist, there’s no such thing as a dominant hand. Here are some exercises to strengthen hand coordination and independence.
Kala Brand Music’s new hybrid instrument, the Guitarlele, will delight guitar players looking for the perfect travel guitar, as well as ukulele players exploring guitar for the first time.
When Van Caldwell retired in July 2013 he had big plans. “One of the first things I did was enroll in a music program as a senior/audit student, which meant I only had to pay the $25 registration fee,” Caldwell explains. “Many colleges and universities across the nation have similar programs for those who want to study music or any subject.”
“The arts, and music in particular, is the one thing we know will reach people on a deep fundamental level to change hearts and minds,” explains Wayne Kramer, former guitarist for the now-legendary Detroit-based seminal hard rock band The MC5 and co-founder of Jail Guitar Doors USA, a nonprofit program that provides musical instruments and opportunities to help rehabilitate prisoners.
Designed by guitar players for like-minded instrumentalists, the Cooperstand Ecco-G’s unique eco-friendly design fits acoustic, electric, and bass guitars (and many other stringed instruments). It’s built tough enough to withstand the rigors of the stage and flexible enough to move with the instrument if bumped. It will fit in the back pocket of a pair of jeans or pack away into most guitar cases and gig bags.