I have played in 5 nursing homes. Old songs, two had grand pianos no one played for years and I had to get a guy to do the tuning for almost free.

They have a lot of money and can spend it on crazy this. A home I played in for free had a guy who they paid 800 bucks a visit to do a 'birthday' show. Yellow Bird on an arranger keyboard with a mic and a 200 buck amp... good work if you can get it. He tried to make them stop me for playing free at noon for an hour.

Opened my eyes.

I played in a 40 piece brass band. We practiced in the large lobby 12 times in the fall and the same in the spring. New management came in and canned us. We just went for free and 30 or so people were wheeled in to hear us. Then we were gone. No notice.

I've played where someone had to be escorted out because they screamed Ava Marie at us, or a guy who yelled Turkey in the Straw over and over, even after we played it.

Just a bit off the rocker there.

But I've played for hundreds of hours, just me a a piano.

And I've played my keyboard with the principal flautist and piccalo from the local symphony for close to 6 months. She claimed I taught her a lot, but I just brought the music and a stand for her and used 500 year old celtic music.

You need to explain your deal to the management, get a letter of understanding, and be aware of other laws. Here you need a police background check for 40 bucks before you can even think about it. Maybe that's wrong, but it's the way it is.

john, there's one little lady here named francis who owns me wee irish heart! if you can remember and picture the irish actor barry fitzgerald (qv), she could be his twin sister. she's as cute as the proverbial bugs ear. i think she's either 87 or 93. on her recent birthday party i asked her how old she was and she said: "they just now told me but i forgot!" sadly she has alzheimer's so i must re-intrroduce myself to her every day. i have my dynavox (speech synthesis device) pre-loaded with hundreds of songs (they call me "the music man") so i'll park my power chair beside her geri-chair (a sort of recliner on wheels) and play old time fiddle tunes, her personal favorite music, for her. i have observed that their (dementia patients) sense of musical rhythm remains largely intact and it's a great joy to me to see her start tapping her feet and waving her hands in perfect time to the music while smiling from ear to ear. it's considered a breach of patient privacy rights to photograph or video them (they can't give their legal consent) or i'd send you her picture. my point is...there isn't enough money in the world to equal the joy of her impish smile.

While I can't add much to what has been said so I'll only echo the statements and observations above. I recall quite a few times seeing bed bound patients absolutely still throughout a performance, that is with the exception of a tapping foot.

Similar to the other thread regarding gig experiences like many of you I have many heart warming stories from playing charity gigs, many from the seniors but even more from the numerous special ed classes I have been fortunate enough to perform for over the years, these kids are great and their hugs just as wonderful.

Later,

John,

I was going to write a post about how "Real Musicians" play their music live, until I saw the vinyl, lol. I thought for sure this was a video of three blokes doing their thing in a park somewhere.

I enjoyed the video as is and the music is real

Thanks,

Trax

Nursing homes - We played at our local one and they had an acoustic piano we used. My buddy brought his acoustic guitar, so we were a two piece band. The piano was an out of tuned stand up type and there were no microphones or amps to play through.

I knew we were in trouble when the lady in the very back row started yelling to turn it down, lol. I'm estimating that room could hold about 200 people and she was at the opposite end from where we were. Oh, the memories . . .

Trax

it's 85 degrees, you are sweating bullets and someone yells, "turn the heat on I'm freezing!"

That's me, I'm going by Sam McGee soon. Dang I'm cold. Over a year now. But messing with my thyroid is on the horizon. I hope to get some heat man.

Tip, scour the 'flea markets' for old music books. I got one from the 30's. Lot's of spirituals, religious songs, etc.

My Mom who's 83 and somewhere around 9 years old, or maybe 8 in reality, she just once in a while yells..."Halleluiah I'm a bum, halleluiah bum again..." but there just a sort of tune. I figured it was just Mom being off kilter again.

But in the book there's the song. Depression song. Starts out with a ditty I have never heard about "Why don't you get a job like other men do?"...and he replies I can't get a job there's no work to do..."

and the rest is Halleluiah I'm a bum, halleluiah bum again..

so...Mom really is just singing a popular song from 'way back'.

BTW the tune would be known to old evang.types as Revive us Again.

The book, published in 32, is a snapshot of history. I got it and 5 editions of old music magazines for a buck. Great find. I have given away many of my old books, my kids would just put them in a garage sale, and I get more pleasure out of putting my library (personal) stamp in them, and putting them in a 'library', one of several where I donate things.

john, danny miller comes the 3rd wednesday every month and gets this joint rockin;' but he makes $200 per 1 hour show and he's worth every penny. plays pie-anna ala jerry lee lewis and floyd cramer, a real showman. he adds bass drum by stomping on the base of the mic stand while playing, a very believable sound. he said i could share his music so, if you want to hear him, i can email some of his original tunes to you. just nod your head.

e pluribus onion

Don to me you will always be a perpetual motion chicken!

I used to go once a month and play with a group at a nursing home. One time after finishing a song, I said to the group, "I'm sorry, I missed a chord."

A lady in the front row said, We don't know the difference."

Don S.

stan, i am so proud of you! yes, that's exactly what it's all about. i like your idea of hand-outs with lyrics, excellent! by chance, a guy with his guitar came and entertained totally unannounced and the residents/patients really enjoyed it. he played for the smiles he invoked.

I did put in the earlier post about yelling stuff.

A woman at a nursing home grabbed me and yelled Ave Maria and started singing over my playing. About the 3rd time she toppled me off the piano stool. They put her in the funny wing and she still beat on the door and you could faintly hear her yell...'ave maria'. Then they took her away. Sad really. All music did for her was make her yell that.

Halleluiah I'm a bum, halleluiah bum again...

if you knew what you were saying, john, you'd bite your tongue off. hint: it contains the intimate form of the divine name which is definitely not "lord." you look it up, i already know what it means.

Next time you come over, perhaps we can arrange an eyeball?

Don S.

I don't need to be told of the 14 times a word appears in what place in Hebrew. I did 2 years of it and remember some of it too well.

Never the less, the 1920's revival song is in a book I found recently, and which my 83 year mother sings ad naseum.

Here's the original for your listening enjoyment:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uKbIkYGsIg&feature=related

Now shall we argue the case for the inclusion of the j in the hallal word from the psalms?

It is odd how 2 obscure Hebrew words, not often found together, were translated and then rocketed into prominence in out language.

Le-Nord Cohen does a nice rendition.

i was uncommonly tactless, john, but it is a consistently mis-defined term (exclamation). with your knowledge of the hebrew language, you know it is a very specific name being referred to and not a title, as so often mis-translated. to me, that is a very important distinction. example: "john," as opposed to "hey you." you are one of the few here that recognize that distinction.

as for the song...my mother sang it quite often.

*** it-1 p. 1022 Hallelujah ***
HALLELUJAH
(Hal‧le‧lu′jah).
A transliteration of the Hebrew expression ha‧lelu-Yah′, appearing first at Psalm 104:35. In the New World Translation it is nearly always translated “praise Jah, you people.” The expression occurs 24 times in the Hebrew Scriptures and, with the exception of Psalm 135:3 (“praise Jah,” NW), introduces and/or concludes the Psalms in which it is found. (See Ps 112:1; 115:18; 146:1, 10; 147:1, 20; 148:1, 14; 149:1, 9; 150:1, 6.) This expression stands alongside “Amen” at the close of Book Four of Psalms (Ps 106:48), and a Greek form of it appears four times at Revelation 19:1-6, where the reference is to the joy experienced over the destruction of Babylon the Great and that associated with Jehovah’s beginning to rule as King.—See JAH.

*** it-1 p. 1248 Jah ***
JAH
A poetic shortened form of Jehovah, the name of the Most High God. (Ex 15:1, 2) This abbreviated form is represented by the first half of the Hebrew Tetragrammaton יהוה (YHWH), that is, the letters yohdh (י) and heʼ (ה), the tenth and fifth letters of the Hebrew alphabet respectively.
Jah occurs 50 times in the Hebrew Scriptures, 26 times alone, and 24 times in the expression “Hallelujah,” which is, literally, a command to a number of people to “praise Jah.” However, the presence of “Jah” in the original is completely ignored by certain popular versions. (Dy, Mo, RS) The King James Version and An American Translation have it only once, as “Jah” and “Yah” respectively. (Ps 68:4) In the English Revised Version it appears twice in the body of the text (Ps 68:4; 89:8), and in the American Standard Version the full form, Jehovah, is substituted throughout, but these latter two translations in practically every occurrence of the contracted form call it to our attention in footnotes. The New World Translation preserves for the reader all 50 occurrences of Jah, or Yah; and Rotherham’s Emphasised Bible, 49 of them.
In the Christian Greek Scriptures “Jah” appears four times in the expression Hallelujah. (Re 19:1, 3, 4, 6) Most Bibles simply carry this Greek expression over into English untranslated, but G. W. Wade renders it, “Praise ye Jehovah,” and the New World Translation reads, “Praise Jah, you people!”
In point of time “Jah” could not have been a primitive form of the divine name used earlier than the Tetragrammaton itself. The latter full form, Jehovah, occurs 165 times in the Masoretic text in the book of Genesis, but it was not until the account of events after the Exodus from Egypt that the shorter form first appeared.—Ex 15:2.
The single syllable Jah is usually linked with the more moving emotions of praise and song, prayer and entreaty, and is generally found where the subject theme dwells upon a rejoicing over victory and deliverance, or where there is an acknowledgment of God’s mighty hand and power. Examples of this special usage are abundant. The phrase, “Praise Jah, you people!” (Hallelujah) appears as a doxology, that is, an expression of praise to God, in the Psalms, the first being at Psalm 104:35. In other psalms it may be at the beginning only (Ps 111, 112), occasionally within a psalm (135:3), sometimes at the end only (Ps 104, 105, 115-117), but often at both the beginning and the end (Ps 106, 113, 135, 146-150). In the book of Revelation heavenly personages repeatedly punctuate their praise of Jehovah with this expression.—Re 19:1-6.
The remaining instances where “Jah” appears also reflect exaltation in songs and petitions to Jehovah. There is the song of deliverance by Moses. (Ex 15:2) In those recorded by Isaiah a double emphasis is gained by combining both names, “Jah Jehovah.” (Isa 12:2; 26:4) Hezekiah, in his poetic exultation after being miraculously healed when close to death, expressed heightened feelings by repetition of Jah. (Isa 38:9, 11) The contrast is drawn between the dead, who cannot praise Jah, and those determined to live a life of praise to him. (Ps 115:17, 18; 118:17-19) Still other psalms display a prayerful appreciation for deliverance, protection, and correction.—Ps 94:12; 118:5, 14.

RE: J OR Y

jehovah is the most common rendering of the divine name but there are many different language variations. the most common pronunciation in english is jehovah.

Guys & Gals,

I know a lot has been said here about donating your time (playing for no fee) and while I too do a lot of that at schools, public special ed classes and adult mentally and physically challenged centers keep in mind that most senior centers are owned by corporations who charge a lot of money to their guest. And while they are called "non-profit" they do make a load of money. With that said many of them have budgets for field trips, lunch outings and yes even entertainment. So never be ashamed to request a fee for your time, work and/or expenses.

I have found the key to look for is an activity director, if they have one it more likely than not they have an entertainment budget. The best way to find out is to ask.

Later,

Yup the 'activity' director was always my contact. The thing that got me the most riled was that as a Fire Department employee with 'roving car' and radios I donated my Mon Wed Fri lunch time as often as possible barring an alarm or fire investigation. They had a nice grand piano (yamaha) and I wanted to play it. I got it tuned, and played 3 times a week for 5 years.

I had a real problem with some new imported chief who tried to stop it, but a local radio personality who's Mom was in the same place went publicly ballistic on him for trying to stop me.

Then I retired and the place I played for so many years came out and told me I need a police clearance. Cost 80 bucks. Then I found out they were paying some guy once a month 1k to play a birthday party. Yellow bird with a 10 year old arranger keyboard. Sad.

I had real orchestral pros come and play with me.

After 4 years of 3 times a week, they had a celebration for me. I got a coffee mug. Never went back.

I still play a couple of places but the pain makes me a person who does not want to go out the door let alone go play. My wife drags me to 4 bands, and mostly I manage. Oh well.



As to Hebrew, I am fully aware of the JW guys who knock on my door, and their weird view of Hebrew. Head office told you what to type, what to say... Sorry. It does not compute, nor will it ever. It's about as bogus as other stuff. I tolerate all religions, however yours is not a supposed to be shoved at me, nor is it to be waved in public. It's yours, have fun with it. It's not mine. Anyways it's too late for me even if I wanted, the 144,000 does not included 1 more. I'm outta luck. And I don't believe anything someone else spouts.

Just in case you wanted a surprise, my English rates way up, my Frenches are more than passable, and my German sort of works. I understand Spanish. And my Hebrew and Greek are not to be overlooked, nor my 2 years of Latin.

Just don't call me a fool by printing a whack of stuff I know in one contest or another. I can actually turn you in circles with descriptions of Hebrew translations and etc. but do you really want that level of boredom?

Oh, I'm back at it. I'm enrolled in University, again. Once they sort out the credits from the University of Cinci, or so I'm told.

Forget it Don. You make no points by pushing the JW thing, you can knock on someone other door.

And this is the magnanimous me, I need opium to survive my days, so those who need it, the masses, can have it. I don't sit in judgement of that. Don't share yours and I won't give you my opium. Just makes you addicted.

Two years ago I just laughed at religion. Now that I feel your pain I'm in the boat, but that won't make me sleep nights when the pain had ahold of me. Now as to the old black rum. Google that one.

I'm singing Hallelujah I'm a bum, every day. Cause I am.

john, with your vast linguistic talents, knowledge, and background, tell me please...why does my bible show the divine name, jehovah, nearly 7,000 times while yours shows it only 4 times or not at all? which of us has "grieved the holy spirit by adding to or taking away from god's word?" (Deuteronomy 4:1-2) . . .. 2 YOU must not add to the word that I am commanding YOU, neither must YOU take away from it, so as to keep the commandments of Jehovah YOUR God that I am commanding YOU.

my goal is to win hearts not arguments so let the readers discern which of us has the true bible based evidence to share. "as for me and my household, we shall serve jehovah!"

an interesting preface to the revised standard version (RSV) reads: "when the word LORD (all capitals) appears it means JEHOVAH. jehovah's witnesses did not write the RSV or any of dozens of other translations that render the divine name faithfully throughout. certainly, with your superior language skills and academic accomplishments, you already know that. it is true that, due to the many documented errors in the king james version (KJV), jehovah's witnesses endeavored to do a modern english version (new world translation, NWT) which is well respected by modern bible scholars like yourself for its candor and accuracy. up to that printing (about 1950) we used the KJV and we are generally comfortable in any bible translation.

(1 Corinthians 8:1-3) . . .. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 If anyone thinks he has acquired knowledge of something, he does not yet know [it] just as he ought to know [it]. 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by him. . .

personally, i have many different bible translations that i use in my door-to-door ministry (in imitation of the 1st century apostles and that other JC) and personal bible studies. many newly interested ones prefer to confirm what i teach them by first seeing it in their own bible so i carry several popular translations in my saddlebag. when they see it written in modern-day english they ask for a copy of the NWT which i generally give to them as a free gift. we have no paid clergy class to "fleece the flock" so small donations support our worldwide work.

you obviously know the physical persecutions upon jehovah's witnesses in canada during ww2. our women were gang raped, real property illegally taken, our children expelled from your public schools, brothers fired from their jobs, refused food at grocers, many were forced out of their homes then beaten or raped then tarred and feathered all because we respected the bible view on christian neutrality. it's all well documented in the public record but you already knew that, right? so we continue going from door-to-door seeking those right-hearted ones "who are sighing and crying over the detestable things" going on in the earth. obviously there are "sheep" remaining or jehovah would tell us to stop harvesting. judging by our phenomenal growth we are striking a responsive chord worldwide.

meanwhile, in nazi germany, jehovah's witnesses were sent to death camps and crematoriums for refusing to go to war and kill their "more civilized" canadian brothers.

Don,

Quoting scripture and tallying the number of a times a word occurs doesn't win hearts or minds.

bob, i apologize to you but jc brings out the worst in me (and others). he only seems happy when he is riling someone on these forums. in my 10 - 12 years here i have never spoken up when he was badgering others. even the other jc had his limits. if i have offended you or anybody else please accept my sincerest apology. my worst weakness is my strong love for people. if this thread offends the mods then take whatever action deemed necessary. someone must stand up to this narcissistic, ego maniac goliath. "here i am, send me!"

Don,

You don't have anything to apologize to me for. We're good.