|
|
#1
11-12-2009, 06:59 AM
|
|||
|
|||
Repertoire for a Nursing Home
I am building my repertoire up (I memorize everything), and I have a goal of performing at a nursing home. We had to place my mom in one recently, and they always have someone come in and play the guitar or piano for an hour. I think it's important to do good deeds like this!
How many pieces will I need to learn? I imagine I can just time it off, and play, but I am wondering if anyone is doing this presently. I may have to get an acoustic as I do notice that the guy who comes in to play, plays songs like "Take me out to the Ball Park", and other fun ones that get the folks just a clapping. So I suppose I could do a mix of classical and acoustic that might be fun! Thanks for your input... Lisa 
|
|
#2
11-12-2009, 07:27 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
With the holiday's coming up a few Christmas carols would be nice on the classical...or accoustic for that matter. Silent Night on one end and Jingle Bells on the other.
I know the nursing homes around where I am at, the people like to hear old hymns/church songs (Amazing Grace, I'll Fly Away, etc). But they also like some old folk stuff. IMO I have not been to one where they didn't just flat out appreciated the music regardless of what kind it was. I would be prepared for some requests too...can you play that old song by whatshisname  ...Main thing is have fun playing there. It will be a blast for you I am sure!
|
|
#3
11-12-2009, 07:28 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
My wife has a singing group and they have been doing the entertaining shutin circuit for the last 25 years... She does half a dozen homes with 2 or 3 different programs a year. She has a somewhat fixed format. She always opens with the same number.. "Gift of Song". They do a mid program meet and greet number then she ends with an upbeat kind of number. Her programs run about an hour. They are a vocal group, and use pre-recorded accompaniment. Sometimes she purchases the accompaniment CDs and sometimes she records it herself or gets pianist friends to record the accompaniment. I'm the roadie/techie.. hah..
Ok, as to your question.. You should try and do "old standard" kinds of things. Show tunes or things that Sinatra, Como or Martin would have done. Well, that kind of oldie goldie thing. It would be great if they could participate, but the main thing is that they recognize what you play. IMHO.. Good luck.
__________________
Guitars: Eastman AC710, Eastman E10P, Stonebridge GS23-CR, Gibson Chet Atkins CEC/CE, Sigma 000MC-1STE Retired and in search of a happy ending.. but not soon!!
|
|
#4
11-12-2009, 07:30 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Lisa,
Your post truly warms my heart. You are a very nice person to want to do this. I would say any easy to play song popular in the 40's through the 70's. Maybe a big Country hit tune or so. Some folk songs. Michael Row Your Boat, etc. My Mom was in a nursing home too, and I missed opportunities to go there and play. I wish I could turn back the clock. No matter what you play, the residents there will love and appreciate it very much. God bless you!
|
|
#5
11-12-2009, 07:34 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
The songs that people enjoy most when I go to nursing homes are old hymns, and songs that may well have been sung at the residents' weddings. I often let the residents there suggest songs. Of course, I've done this for a while, and have a pretty good idea by now.
If I don't want to do it in the midst of a "performance," I'll go early and ask some of them individually. That gives me a chance to chat, which they sometimes enjoy more than my programs. No, I'm not that bad, it's just that nursing home residents are often lonely, and prefer some one-on-one conversation to the finest of programs they just watch. cotten
|
|
#6
11-12-2009, 07:37 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
You will love it!
My wife and I have been doing a monthly gig at a local nursing home for several years now. I also tell a few corny jokes, the jokes are the bomb; there are several men that come just for the jokes. We do one hour that is about all they can take at one sitting. Because we all work we are forced to start at 6:30 pm (third Tuesday of ever month). This is really not the best time, some folks are already in bed and some would rather be. If you can do it in the early afternoon it would be better. The weekend is the time people visit if they get any visits, so we where asked to stay clear of those. I have about 30 songs in the binder I bring with us; we end up doing about 12 or so, with a half dozen jokes. I don’t do any instrumentals and with just me playing guitar there are no instrumental breaks in the songs. Several people sing along with just about every song especially the hymns, we encourage participation. It is a smallish room with block walls; I use an acoustic and no amplification. Here are lists of some of the songs we do in no order of reason: I saw the light (Hank) King of the road (Roger Miller) Silver wings (Merle) Momma tried (Merle) Country roads (Denver) Golden rings (George & Tammy) You’re the reason God made Oklahoma (West & Frazzle) In Color (Jamey Johnson) Loves gonna live here again (Buck Owens) No more tears (Gordens) Try a little kindness (Glen) Power in the blood City of New Orleans Don’t be cruel (Elvis) Do Lord This little light of mine Go rest high I’ll fly away Daddy sang bass Lilly of the valley That is a few I recall off the top of my head. Stay upbeat your attitude means more than your song choice.
__________________
Epiphone Hummingbird Pro Seagull M6 Spruce Gibson J40 (1972 era) Yamaha 365S (1980 ish) Taylor 110, 2004 Martin DC-160GTE
|
|
#7
11-12-2009, 07:55 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
I play at a nursing home every now and then, and like Cotten said, old hymns and such. They also like old songs like "Up a Lazy River", and even some old blues.
__________________
woody b politically incorrect since 1964
|
|
#8
11-12-2009, 08:12 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
I got the chance to do this last December. We went as a group, with some of our church singers and some kids. One of the most appreciative audiences ever!
Although you can't see their "enthusiasm" in the videos, they seemed to really enjoy it and we went for about an hour. Even one guy that appeared to be sleeping had his foot tapping in time with us the whole time. We did some old hymns, some "Hoe-down" gospel songs, and tried to do requests as we could manage. What I like most about seniors is that they will tell you exactly like it is. When we had finished playing, my wife asked them if they would like to sing some Christmas carols. This sweet old lady in her 90's replies: "This has been good.....but we're very old....I've had just about enough and need a nap now." You had to be there, but it was hilarious. I hope to go again this year. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0kQiA3Njt4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvoJCPps2ds http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grYWdTY-sQo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv9wqnJeYH0 Last edited by Joe F; 11-12-2009 at 08:17 AM.
|
|
#9
11-12-2009, 08:13 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
I used to volunteer at a particular seniors home, before moving to a small town. I played guitar there once or twice a week, with a 65 year old blind man who also had cognitive difficulties similar to autism. In fact, he sounds exactly like Dustin Hoffman from the movie Rainman. He plays guitar reasonably well, and harmonica too. In any event, we had our stalwart group of fans, our most loyal being one Minnie Schick, all 101 years of her. She was always the first one there and the last to leave.
The funny part is, Jack played all the oldies (which I learned to play only for this purpose) but I played only the music I wrote, which has a strong blues or even rock flavor. Minnie loved the "new stuff " more than the old. So don't worry too much about making the right selections. A long as its good acoustic music, it should be much appreciated.I still visit when I go back to the city, about three or four times a year, and we still play, but usually just for ourselves these days, as I never know when I am going to arrive.
|
|
#10
11-12-2009, 08:13 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Go over to Chordie.com then go into the public songbooks, it's all there! This time of year Christmas music too. Older country, Elvis, Neil Diamond Golden Oldies. Click the link to get the lyrics and chords, transpose if you need to, print off and put into 3 ring binder. I've got the plastic sleeves in my 3 ring binder for durability.
You will never regret doing this, talk about an appreciative audience. Good for you! -Mike
|
|
#11
11-12-2009, 08:15 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
They make fake books of hits of the seventies etc- i even think theirs one called classic hit songs ( or someting like that ) an easy way to approach this is to bring along a music stand with a fake book - and put tabs on the pages with the music you want -it can save you memorizing all the songs . i think it really wont matter what you play - its more of the though that counts, and i know youd be appreciated .
A thank you comes your way from me for doing this !
__________________
--------------------------------- Wood things with Strings !
|
|
#12
11-12-2009, 08:38 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
From my experience playing in homes my folks were in over the last three years, where I'd play for lunch, or any reason at all, or no reason, for anyone that was around, that the most popular things were great "standards" mostly available by looking at an old original "Musicians Bible". Here's a few that nearly everyone knows and likes that "assisted living homes" or "nursing homes":
1) Darn that Dream 2) Accustomed to your face. 3) As time goes by 4) Autumn Leaves 5) Danny Boy 6) Days of Wine and Roses 7) Georgia on my mind 8) God Bless the Child 9) My Foolish Heart 10) Over the Rainbow and a million more. People would sing along (to themselves usually) with songs of this ilk and they're fun to play.
|
|
#15
11-12-2009, 09:07 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
Silent Night O Little Town of Bethleham The First Noel Canon in D (played in C) It is Well Amazing Grace O Sacred Head Now Wounded What Child is This O Come O Come Emmanuel How Great Thou Art We Three Kings Somewhere Over the Rainbow Holy Holy Holy God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen It Came Upon a Midnight Clear Away In a Manger. Classical Gas Many of these can be learned from Youtube material The main thing is you are there sharing.
__________________
Martin 000-28EC, Taylor 12fret Cedar/Mahogany, Taylor GC8, Carvin AC275, Takamine TC135SC, Yamaha APX5na
|
