A musical update
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I attended several concerts at the facility where I was recovering from my knee issues in their skilled nursing facility. The same place also housed a senior living segment and those residents were the main audience for the concerts.
In my opinion, at least some of the people in those facilities welcome any opportunity for social engagement and listening to a performance. You are unlikely to encounter many critics. Your attendance at someone else's concert will give you more to consider.
During my mother's last years, she resided in an assisted living/nursing home where I would visit her. I'm frankly a very poor pianist, but she still liked to hear me play. I usually brought some volume of popular songs or made use of some hymnal already there to play for her on a piano in a lobby. Sometimes, we'd attract a couple of other listeners.
I think you will enjoy the experience and find a most receptive audience for whatever you choose to play. Don't overthink this.
Big Al
Money seems to buy the most happiness when you give it away.
Why does everything have to be so complicated, all in the name of convenience. -ShiroKuro
A lifetime of experience will change a person. If it doesn't, then you're already dead inside. -MarkJ
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That sounds like it must have been lovely, @Big_Al
@Big_Al said in A musical update:
Don't overthink this
This is always good advice!
I would love to be able play while people sing Christmas carols.... my sightreading has improved over the years, maybe that's something I could do in the future with less prep than I anticipated...
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Was told by a member of the Tucson banjo group that some of the people in that nursing home had responded to nothing for a very long time. Those people responded to the banjo and they seemed to smile.
Go and play. I suspect the louder the better. You will be appreciated. -
I think the banjo will make anyone smile!
I am getting closer to choosing my pieces. I'll let you know how it goes!
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In case anyone is curious, here are the pieces I'm thinking I'll play (I say thinking bc I still might tweak the selection, but I'm 90% decided)
Obviously, these are performances by the original composers, my performance will be.... not this good.
This is about 14 minutes of music, I think.
- Moment by Alexis Ffrench Link to video
- September Song by Alexis Ffrench Link to video
- Reminiscence by Takashi Kako (this link is cued so it should start at 1:40, which is where this piece starts) Link to video
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Learning some pieces like those is on my list of things to do.
Hope it goes well. -
Thank you! I have over 6 weeks to get ready. We shall see!
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Well, shoot. I was planning to attend a concert this evening at the location where I'll plan next month, it's organized by the same group. But several of the performers cancelled at the last minute, so the concert itself has been canceled.
That means I won't be able to see the venue and see how the concert is run before playing myself. Also, it makes me worry about whether the Nov. one is at risk of being canceled.
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@ShiroKuro
Can you find out why the others cancelled?“I’m at an age when remembering something right away is as good as an orgasm.”—Gloria Steinem to Julia Louis-Dreyfus on Wiser Than Me
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@CHAS said in A musical update:
Can you find out why the others cancelled?
Probably but I don't want to bother the organizer too much.
I suspect that maybe some of them are sick, and others maybe just weren't ready (they're college students in the music program here). It sounds like this concert had a smaller number of performers to begin with, so maybe the Nov. concert will be ok since there are more people on the program...
