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At some point soon, I'd like to do a little volunteer work.
I'm 47, and guessing that I won't know many of the favorites of the generation typically found in a nursing home.
I'd very much like to start volunteering (hope I'm not taking any gigs away from anyone - you know who I'm addressing this point to : ) I'm pretty sure the nursing homes I'm targeting are unwilling to pay for this service.
Would anyone be willing to share a song list I could use to make this crowd a little happier ? I'm sure playing songs they are familiar with will go over far better than my own favorites (this point - even for the general listening audience - could be another thread in itself, I think - feel free).
Thanks in advance.
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Joe, top 100 lists are online for every year going wayyy back. If you want to zero in on the songs that appeal to a particular age group, that's a good starting point. Most people retain an affection for Whatever music was popular the year they graduated from high school, and through their 20s. Here's a link to top 100 lists starting in 1950: http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1950.htmpeople between the ages of 65-80 should at least be familiar with these songs. Age 68 would have graduated from HS in 1950, and up to age 80 would have been young adults that year (for subsequent lists, just change the year) I've printed all the lists and am in process of learning the top 10 songs from each year in order to be prepared for every age group Also many of the people here who play for a living have said that the crowd tends to tell you what they want to hear by their requests. Just listen to what they say and act on their requests to hone your set list for any given venue. Also, if you approach the staff at homes and retirement communities etc, they can tell you the average age of their residents, and what other entertainers are playing. (you probably won't be the only one)
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Joe,
I also think you would need to take your region into consideration.
Most folks in a WV nursing home wouldn't want to hear too much Sinatra. But they would probably love hearing Hank Williams and Patsy Cline.
So your play list isn't just generational, it's also regional.
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Joe, first off, I'm so proud of you for what you are doing. What I do, to establish a good musical reference point, is to ask their year of HS graduation. Sort of an offhanded way of asking their age. That year is most vivid in everyone's memory. Then, knowing the year, go to www.tropicalglen.com and find the Top 100 Pop Hits for that year. Alternately, the Top 20 Countdown. They also have the Top 100 Country Hits. They have every year between 1950 and 1989. That should satisfy most elderly listeners. They have reached an age where they are proud to admit it publicly. All the best to you on your commendable project.
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Another thing to factor in for older people is faith.
Although there has been a systematic effort to faith-neutralize the country, it has not changed the persuasion of most older people, who overwhelmingly identify themselves as Christian and who are much more likely to have attended church for their entire lives.
Pick up any hymnal and you will find hundreds of songs that older people have been singing along with since they were little kids. And as people approach the end, these songs take on a new significance.
Obviously, if the institution is sponsored by a non-Christian organization (such as a Jewish home) Christian hymns would not be a good starting point. But for the average place that has a cross-section of society, hymns should be very popular.
My mother spent 10 years in an alzheimers home. When I visited her, there was often live entertainment. Usually they were playing hymns (and the residents were enthusiastically singing along)
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Always good to try to arrange a visit to the target venue without instrument or intent to perform. If hyou can do so on a day when others are entertaining, so much the better. Gives you a chance to not only scope out what is already working, what the audience is like, but also a good idea what the audience might expect. And you may just find a few songs that are favorites of the target audience and will have time to see if you can incorporate some or all of those into your act. Telephone call to the management, followup with personal visit, but don't get in the way of all the work these people have to do, make certain they know that you are there to help them, not the other way around. Biggest tip I can give, LOVE YOUR AUDIENCE -- something that we should do everywhere and at all times, but in this case is magnified even more by the situation.
If your performance is good, you will find that genre or song choice is not as problematic as it first appears. Of course, there's a caveat there, not very likely that you'd get called back after an all-heavy-metal performance at the retirement home. <grin>
One big tip I can offer: Situations where the folks can participate with you in some fashion work extremely well. This might include a few relatively simple but well known songs that cross generations and just about everyone at any age can get a kick out of joining in for a sing-along. Standard Hymns are something to consider adding to your repertoire, at least a few. Amazing Grace, almost everybody knows and loves to some degree. Things like that go over well. "Its a Wonderful World" is another that I've found to work in these environments almost insanely well.
When performing the sing-alongs, it is important to start at a moderate and easy Tempo, and play in a way that not only keeps that tempo throughout, but makes it easy for the amateur to sing along with you. Not the time for showing off fancy guitarwork then.
I always caution people not to attempt to change themselves or attempt to try to play genres that they have never played or are unfamiliar with simply because of the belief that the older audience, or really any audience for that matter, might be more familiar with the style and content. Any audience will be able to tell if you are not being true to your school. Better to take from that which you know well, tempered with a little bit of common sense as to the situation, and work up the show from that standpoint. They're old, they're certainly not simple or stupid. Matter of fact, the combined years of wisdom in these places always thrills me, I do recommend allocating time to just sit and talk with the people after performing. There's value in doing that. And one time this old fellow I was visiting took out a pen and wrote down a name and phone number, told me to call his son for work. His son turned out to be the second generation owner-operator of a posh restaurant and I got a GIG.
--Mac
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include some gospel ones as well Joe, always goes down well
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Thanks for all your great, informative comments and support - it really makes the effort that much easier and more inspiring.
On that note - for those of you that have done some of this - I'll bet you might have some funny stories to share - please do so, if you have any : )
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I found I had to play at 1/2 tempo. The mind still works, but it's slower.
I printed out the words in big print, one page at a time.
Many people want certain tunes, they will tell you if you sit with them a bit.
The activity director is a good source. They know who sings and enjoys it.
Even the ones who don't talk much have favourites.
Getting the activity director who they know to clap along and be up front with you helps.
The alphabet song went over big.
L O V E - Nat King Cole
Tennessee Ernie Ford.
I almost made the switch to 'karoke'. It seems to be better if you hype it.
I used Band in a Box to practice, but usually just played by myself.
I have a standing invite to play the grand piano in several places. I just show up alone then.
I'm also supposed to start doing the grand at the Hilton Hotel. Free buffet lunch and a drink for an hour's work at 1 pm, any day I want.
I sure need some motivation of my own. I'm so poor with walking I'm just a few steps away from someplace like that myself. Most days.
Today included.
But I've stuff to do.
And my own pianos and keyboards call me all the time. Like now.
John Conley
Musica est vita
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We play at those venues on a regular schedule year-round. We have 12 programs we do. November is patriotic and December is Christmas (all types of songs). Drop me a line if you want program song lists. We use fakebooks a lot and have them for the 20's and 30's, too. 5ft. 2, Toot, Toot, Tootsie, etc. are well-liked songs and they are before 1940.
We also pass out word packets. Be prepared that some folks won't want to give them back. It's nice that we do get some back at the next gig sometimes.
After we play a piece, we set the chart on the table behind us. One time a lady got up, picked up all the charts on the table, and through them in the trash...Which was promptly emptied. I had to do a few computer girations to get those charts reprinted.
Stan
Cornet Curmudgeon
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Perhaps the most important part of this has to do with maintaining a rapport with the place's support staff and management. Very important.
You will find it a much more pleasant and rewarding situation by opening those lines of communication while at the same time not being too pushy about things, defer to the schedules and doings of these overworked and often underpaid staff members.
Let them know that you are there for them, not the other way around.
--Mac
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A snippet from Mac's response above is IMHO may be more important than the music choice . . . "I do recommend allocating time to just sit and talk with the people after performing".
When are you going to start this venture Joe?
Later,
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Quote:
When are you going to start this venture Joe?"
I have a typical 1 to 2 year lag time from when I get an idea to when I start working on it seriously. I'm sure many of you would not be surprised by this after being inundated with my earlier barrage of posts (BTW - that's over for a while - at least until I have some vacation time again, but I think I actually got feedback and next steps for most of my long-percolating ideas, gotta get to work on them next 
I do eventually pick up steam on many of my penchants. I think this one will materialize, but not sure exactly when.
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You will never go wrong with gospel hymns and in most cases they are preferred. Amazing Grace has always been the most requested for me, Will The Circle Be Unbroken, I'll Fly Away, In My Fathers House are some other crowd favorites. Songs about mom and dad and the old home place are always popular Green Green Grass of Home as an example. There will be folks of differing age groups, it is not always just elderly in nursing homes. Generally deduct 50 years and look at the most popular songs from that time and forward as these will be the songs that most there will have grown up listening to. It is not about the music as much as it is about interacting with them. Get to know them share your life with them as for many you will be there only visitor that day they are just people like you, who have come to hear you play.
My TunesPsalm 57:7 My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.
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My good friend Eddie Greely made a very good living doing this up until he passed about 3 years ago. Some talk about volunteer freebies but here at the big assisted living places they pay about $200
Regional is important but here in SoCal, it's all 40's and 50's WWII type stuff but not 50's rock and roll. Sinatra, Sinatra and more Sinatra plus Bobby Darrin, Dino, Perry Como, Wonderfull World and even the early Elvis ballads, all of Ray Charles's country stuff, lots of big band ballads, all that kind of thing. You're 47 so it's your grandparents stuff, not your parents. Like was said above, just realize the average age and then think about what was a hit when they were in high school into their early 20's.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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Good music is good music is good music - it withstands the test of time. I'm somewhat familiar with a lot of the songs/artists you guys are mentioning, and looking forward to working on it. Though as far as the test of time goes - does Al Jolson fit in as one of those enduring artists categories ? I always found that singing style a little comical, wondering if that was his intent back then. Perry Como - I aquired a few of his best hits that I really like - Papa does Mambo, Catch a Shining Star...Amazing Grace - great melody, love the Johnny Cash version.
You guys opened my eyes to the importance of visiting the places, meeting the staff, and watching what they do there before I go, and seeing what they need (easy to do for me given my 'lag' time between initial idea and action plans : )
Now - a million dollar question that may seem a little forward (but that never stopped me before : )
...I'd like to work more on my guitar performance, singing, and learning the songs they will like than on creating BIAB backing tracks. Would it be asking for 'trade secrets' if I asked some of you, who might be willing, to share some of your backing tracks with me for this target audience ? If you're interested, please send me a PM. In the interest of reciprocating, I would be happy to help you out with anything I can. Also - just think how many of us in the forums would be that much closer to bringing the joy of music into these sometimes sad and lonely places if we pooled our resources.
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Joe, I have a friend who plays at assisted living/nursing homes for a living. Two gigs a day, 5 days a week, 50 weeks of the year. Here a link to one of his websites: http://johnboda.com/On the left side, click on the tab that says, Song Lyrics - Chords This will take you to page that has about a hundred of the songs he uses with lyrics & chords for what he call the Great American Songbook. Hope that helps.
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Quote:
On the left side, click on the tab that says, Song Lyrics - Chords
This will take you to page that has about a hundred of the songs he uses with lyrics & chords for what he call the Great American Songbook.
That's incredibly helpful, Tom - thanks so much. In fact, as I read your post, it occurred to me that sing-alongs, Karaoke, and 'lip synching' might be just as much fun or more so than just listening, for those that are able to participate in this way. My real goal is to stimulate these people mentally and increase their interaction with each other - even when I leave. Perhaps I could help them start a 'music night' of their own once a week.
Thanks again.
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