View Full Version : Reaching Out--aka Hospice Tunes
I'll be playing at a hospice this Wednesday, and I'm wondering if anyone has done anything similar. Have you ever used your talents (our lack thereof) to brighten the lives of people who need it? Also, anybody know anything REALLY easy I could play on the mandolin (I'm going to be playing my main instrument, the viola) that would be appropriate? i.e. no death metal...
OldSausage
Oct-23-2009, 7:19pm
I do lots of gigs at old folks' homes. It usually goes best if they are very familiar with the songs and can recognize them easily, e.g. Amazing Grace, When the Saints Go Marching In etc.
Dan Hoover
Oct-23-2009, 7:27pm
Sunshine by john denver...my mom loved hearing this...anything happy,cheery...good for you..
talbotpat
Oct-23-2009, 7:38pm
'I Saw The Light' and 'I'll Fly Away'
Can't go wrong with those...but they should be done in the style of the Beatles.
:whistling:
Seriously though...I played both of these in church on what was dubbed 'bluegrass Sunday' by our worship leader about 1 week after picking up the mandolin. Very fun to play. Look for the David Crowder Band version (medley) of this on YouTube.
Blessings,
Pat
John Flynn
Oct-23-2009, 9:45pm
I played a pretty standard old-time set at an assisted living facility once and it went really well. We had a guitar, a fiddle and myself on mandolin and we played stuff like "Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss," "Eighth of January," "Southwind," etc. and the audience of about 50 people really got into it. I think older audiences like stuff that is nostalgic, but generally upbeat. The great thing about old-time tunes is that even for people who are not really old-time music fans per se, they generally recognize the melodies from movie, television and commercial themes spanning decades. A lot of that stuff is just ingrained in the culture.
A few really easy ones I can think of are "Angeline the Baker," "Cumberland Gap," "Soldier's Joy," and "Cripple Creek."
JEStanek
Oct-23-2009, 10:05pm
There's a big difference between a hospice center and a nursing / retirement center. Depending upon where the person is, they may be an active participant or listener or just be present with you while you play. Even some soothing chord progressions not even a tune would be a benefit to someone who may be non-responsive.
Playing tunes that the others recommended would be good for the more present people in the center. Good luck and thanks for providing a valuable service to people at the end.
Jamie
talbotpat
Oct-23-2009, 10:33pm
Playing tunes that the others recommended would be good for the more present people in the center. Good luck and thanks for providing a valuable service to people at the end.
Jamie
Amen to that. Not an easy gig for some to do for sure...but I'm sure your audience and ultimately you too are tremendously blessed by it. A wonderful ministry you have chosen.
My comments above were purely tongue in cheek..not intended to offend, and I apologize if they did.
Pat
allenhopkins
Oct-23-2009, 10:52pm
I do about 75-80 programs at seniors' facilities every year, but have never done a hospice. Honestly, don't know how I'd handle it. What I tend to do at the other facilities is a mixture of generally familiar material; popular, country, folk songs from Stephen Foster through the 1950's. I have probably sung You Are My Sunshine a thousand times, and don't mind doing it, either.
If I were to program for a hospice, I'd try to be optimistic, a bit inspirational, and gentle in my programming. A bit of humor wouldn't hurt. I'd want to know the attention span and mental capacity of the audience members; many times people in terminal care are experiencing various levels of dementia. Though a thought strikes me: not all in hospice care are elderly. You may find some more familiar with recent music.
I would advise anyone playing in a terminal care environment, to play material with which the musician is comfortable, to select from that repertoire songs that are familiar, positive, encourage participation, and are generationally appropriate. Also, don't neglect the staff. They will probably be just as grateful to have entertainment as the patients.
talbotpat
Oct-23-2009, 11:01pm
Patriotic stuff goes over well also. Lost my grandmother a year ago this past July 4th after a long battle with Alzheimer's. There were a few people that came in with guitar, fiddle, and even flute that played folk songs, some gospel stuff, and patriotic songs, although that may have been largely due to the fact that the 4th was approaching. Regardless, all of the music and the gesture itself was incredibly well received even in an Alzheimer's unit. As Allen correctly points out in his post, this was just as beneficial to families and staff if not more so than to the patients themselves.
John Flynn
Oct-24-2009, 2:38am
Last week, I was at a 10th anniversary ceremony for a local hospice, where my father-in-law passed away three years ago. They had a singer, backed by an electric keyboard player, do "Amazing Grace." It seemed appropriate and it's an easy tune.
I used to play regularly in a retirement home and what I found kind of surprised me. Most people tend to think that older people only want to hear older music, but this is not necessarily true. My wife and I would sing/play newer music, and even originals, much to the older folks delight. I will say, however, that what is really important is for things not to be too fast or too loud, and it's very important to sing clearly to a crowd like that. But, for the most part, they're just like "the rest of us" and just want to hear something beautiful.
JEStanek
Oct-24-2009, 10:04am
Maybe 10 years ago NPR and Bill Moyers did a great piece on the End of Life and palliative care (for pain and stress) was often talked about. It was a valuable learning set of segments for me as that was when my dad was dying from his cancer.
Recently (2006) this article (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5519661) was on palliative music practitioners. It is specifically about harps (not blues!) but I think a mandolin's voice fits in well too. I remembered this and offer it up for your consideration.
Jamie
Charlieshafer
Oct-24-2009, 10:15am
We've had our fiddle club, mostly kids, play at a local hospice several times. I agree with the soothing nature required in the tunes, but you really have to be in tune with the nature and mood of the person. Some liked soothing things, and for that, Bach played softly went over very nicely. Some we're of the mood "I'm not dead yet!" and actually preferred livelier things, in which case standards works well, something they're likely to have heard before. Can;t go wrong with the suggested gospel.
As someone who (all too) recently spent time with a loved one in a hospice setting I would first like to say thank you for playing and providing love and support to all of the people that are there. I am not sure you could every realize how much someone taking the time to play and share helps all of us, staff and family alike.
As to what to play. Just play from the heart. If you are unsure of what to play, or would like to add and extra flair, maybe you would create a list of songs your are comfortable with (in this case on mandolin and viola) and let your listeners choose from the list.
mando Nick
Oct-24-2009, 11:14am
An interesting topic for me because I sing for lots of seniors and weekly at an Alzheimers unit here in town. In terms of singing for Hospice, which I have not done, several tunes come to mind: Swing Low Sweet Chariot that lots of people know, and Edelweiss, from the Sound of Music.
When I sing with groups, I give the dates and composers of the songs too. Some of my favorite songs are swing tunes: Sunnyside of the Street and Only a Paper Moon, for example. I also do a "Irving Berlin trilogy" of Blue Skies, I'll Be Loving You Always, and God Bless America. (and talk a little about the composer) Someone has already mentioned Stephen Foster, and he wrote lots of great songs, which many people know: Swanee River, Oh Susannah, Beautiful Dreamer, etc. Several other songs I do which people like are Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and What a Wonderful World.
Nick Royal
Santa Cruz, CA
bassthumper
Oct-24-2009, 5:06pm
thankyou for starting this thread....and for giving your time and talent bringing music and joy to some folks that will truly appreciate it. having recently spent several months in a physical rehabilitation wing of a retirement home due to multiple sclerosis, i would like to share from my experience to assist you and anyone else in taking music to the ill and elderly. first just being there with an instrument, willing to entertain and break the monotony for shutins means more than fancy licks and complicated chord changes. several times i sat in the courtyard with my weber, struggling with numb fingers to hold the pick and make twofinger chords and other patients would pull over in their wheelchairs and i realized it did'nt have to be perfect or good. simple I IV V and even close to the melody means much more than one can realize, the vibration of strings and wood, up close and personnel is a wonderful medicine. take requests and don't hesitate to ask for a few bars hummed if you are unfamiliar with the tune, also many would love to be asked to sing along. this inclusiveness will touch not only the singer, but all present. taking music to shut ins is a wonderful gift, and if you have someone with a personable freindly dog to mingle with the patients while you pick, i think you will find yourself enjoying one of the most enjoyable and rewarding afternoons imaginable. thank you and bless you
If I'm ever going to visit anybody in the hospital, retirement home, or any kind of shut in, I always take the mandolin. I find I have more to say that way than anything I could say to the person.
I agree with the thought "just play from the heart". I've played for several dying relatives and the others in the room at the time. It was way to emotional for me to sing. But just doing several of the tunes I like to do solo did it for everybody, including the staff.
I also agree it's the sound, not the fancy licks or even familiar tunes. It's tough work for me as it brings up a lot of lost loved ones, but seeing the good it does makes it ok. I even played in an ICU in a rural hospital. Wow was that tough, but once again well received by all. I guess I'd just say, go for it, and don't worry about what you are going to play. Just the fact you want to play is a blessing enough.
Tastes in music are as diverse among elderly and infirmed as any other aspect of society. I've never played a Hospice but plenty of Nursing homes You may even find a few old players in there. Back in the 80s I was performing a Nuc Med procedure on an elderly man whom I knew to have been a music teacher so the the conversation turned to music and I was plumbing my knowledge of Big bands and Jazz brining up Brubek, Basie, the Dorseys ect. when he said to me. "Of coarse my favorite band is the Eagles" You never know.
Jonathan Reinhardt
Oct-25-2009, 7:02am
The "play from the heart" advice is best. Be yourself.
Do what you are most comfortably playing.
People in hospice care are at differing stages of dying, and of course, all will probably have different musical tastes.
Mostly it is spending the time with them that is of primary value, for both of you.
I worked a year or two with hospice and learned a lot.
Richard Singleton
Oct-25-2009, 7:51am
Wonderful thing to be doing. Of interest may be this link to a hospice singing group in Vermont. There is a wonderful song by Peggy Seeger, "Love Call Me Home" that has become a bit of an anthem among folks singing in hospices, many such efforts happening in New England.
http://www.hallowell-singers.org/
John Kasley
Oct-25-2009, 8:53am
Maybe 10 years ago NPR and Bill Moyers did a great piece on the End of Life and palliative care (for pain and stress) was often talked about. It was a valuable learning set of segments for me as that was when my dad was dying from his cancer.
Recently (2006) this article (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5519661) was on palliative music practitioners. It is specifically about harps (not blues!) but I think a mandolin's voice fits in well too. I remembered this and offer it up for your consideration.
Jamie
Interestingly, as I read this I am in a cafe in Baltimore while my wife is attending the third of 5 weekend workshops sponsored by MHTP (Music for the Healing and Transition Program) leading to a practitioner certification. If you would like to know more about this program, the website is : www.mhtp.org
She is a harpist (folk lever harp), but she tells me others in her workshop include a violinist, flautist, and a guitarist.
One of the things she has told me is that practitioners are counseled to not play music with a strong religious association. Reasons include: the patient may not be of the faith the song is associated with and could become offended or agitated; the patient, their family, or others in the environment may construe it as proselytizing and object; or the patient who fears dying may associate the music with that which they most fear. Even the harp itself can be associated with angels/heaven/etc and can have either positive or negative associations, depending on the patient. When playing for people at bedside in hospice, practitioners are advised to get the patient's consent to play.
I suppose these caveats are in line with the principle of "do no harm".
She also tells me that sometimes, it's not the music itself that's important as much as the person just being present with the patient.
lenf12
Oct-25-2009, 11:37am
A bit of background info: I'm a full time employee of our local hospice. I work in the service center (non clinical) in Health Information. The real heroes are the clinicians; nurses, doctors, home health aids and therapists that work directly with patients and families who are confronting end of life issues.
My friend and guitarist and I played at a benefit talent show for the hospice this past August which was quite well received. We will be providing the background music for a memorial service for the childrens hospice program in a couple of weeks. This memorial service is for the survivors; parents, relatives and siblings of young people who succumbed to terminal illnesses and accidents. The music we've selected will include "A Place in the Heart", "Morgan Megan", " Azelea Waltz" as played by Butch Baldassari. We have also selected a couple of Beatle tunes, "In My Life" and "And I Love Her" and "Little Molly-O" arranged by Simon Mayer among other pieces.
Someone posted about refraining from doing strictly religious music and I totally agree. We've selected music that's fairly familiar, secular and very pretty while being rather simple. I think it's important for our participation to remain in the background to musically support the admittedly somber theme of the service and to not approach it as a performance. This may be very different from the OP's purpose for being asked to play at hospice. If they've asked you to entertain them, then entertain as if nobody is sick and facing death. Make them happy to be there and to have you there for them.
Len B.
Clearwater, FL
I played the hospice gig today. I didn't bring the mandolin. I played stuff from Bach cello suites, which I thought was appropriate. It went well, and I got positive feedback from family members. I think the zebra finches they had in a terrarium in the room liked it too--they sat (mostly) quietly and seemed to be listening.
Oh, and the name of the hospice? Gilchrist! Probably no relation, but hey...