Partnership with Chelmsford Senior Center Brings Music to Community
Image by Ed Brennen
05/10/2017
By David Perry
鈥淪hake 鈥檈m if you got 鈥檈m!鈥�
Savannah Marshall 鈥�13, 鈥�16 stood among 12 student musicians and barked commands at senior citizens armed with shakers, cowbells and tambourines.
As sophomore music major Alex Jones sang his way through a rocking rendition of 鈥淭wist and Shout,鈥� the crowd listened, tentatively at first. In the large functional hall of the Chelmsford Senior Center, there were amplifiers and electric keyboards. Drums and background vocals.
A half-hour later, sophomore Joe Folan sang Johnny Cash鈥檚 鈥淩ing of Fire鈥� and things ignited. Those who could shook their instruments and bodies.
鈥淭his is great,鈥� said 92-year-old Al Slidel. He stepped up to one of the microphones to sing along with a couple of numbers. 鈥淭he kids are great; the music is great.鈥�
It was the final day of Marshall鈥檚 Progressive Performance and Production Pedagogy class, her first foray as a lecturer in the Music Department. The pink-haired drummer has long been an energetic mainstay of the department as a student and as a Lowell musician. Since earning her master鈥檚 a year ago, she is on the other side of the grade book.
Image by Ed Brennen
Her students used popular songs, instruments and performances to learn about teaching music. They also learned about music鈥檚 potential to connect all people. The connection between Marshall鈥檚 class and the seniors came about when the senior center reached out to the Music Department.
鈥淲e鈥檇 had a partnership with the school鈥檚 physical therapy people, and wanted to do something with music,鈥� said April Hunt, who helps with the center鈥檚 health and wellness program. 鈥淚 know the university has a really good music program. So we thought, why don鈥檛 we get the seniors some music? We called and this happened, and it has just been amazing.鈥�
Marshall鈥檚 goal was to entertain the senior citizens while teaching her students how to work under any circumstances. So the overture from the senior center provided a perfect opportunity.
The class 鈥渇ills a need,鈥� said Marshall. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 always teach music students the things they necessarily want to be learning. These kids have to learn their craft, but they also have to know how to go out into the world and use it. It鈥檚 about educating students in a way where we meet them where they are.鈥�
Image by Ed Brennen
In the end, she says, 鈥渢he idea is to make everyone dance and have fun.鈥�
鈥淓very single person in the room has been involved,鈥� said Debra Siriani, human services director for Chelmsford鈥檚 Council on Aging and Senior Center Director. 鈥淢usic is like that 鈥� it keeps us alive, young and old. These kids are wonderful. We all love it, but when you鈥檙e older and unable to do as much physically, it鈥檚 especially important.鈥�
In a pair of previous visits, Marshall led the class and the seniors through 鈥渁 Jeopardy-like game鈥� and worked on percussive skills, including a drum circle. On the third visit, they worked from a setlist determined by seniors鈥� votes. It included 鈥淵ou Are My Sunshine,鈥� 鈥淭his Land is Your Land鈥� and Harry Belafonte鈥檚 hit, 鈥淒ay-O (The Banana Boat Song),鈥� as well as 鈥淗ound Dog.鈥�
The students handed out lyric sheets so the seniors could sing along.
One song didn鈥檛 require help: 鈥淕od Bless America.鈥� People stood and some slipped their hands over their hearts. Halfway through, a man in the middle of the room wiped his eyes.
Image by Ed Brennen
鈥淪ome people here are a little shy or a little awkward, and there are some here who even have a touch of dementia,鈥� said Hunt. 鈥淏ut music brings back memories for all of them as well as encouraging socialization. When they play the instruments, it all goes away.鈥�
Marshall started the session with some stretching. They extended their arms and rotated them in a circular motion and then stretched their legs.
Nancy Grippo, who volunteers at the center helping people prepare their taxes, said the music students made a mark.
鈥淚t makes people very happy. We鈥檝e never had anything like it here before,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t makes me happy for the whole day.鈥�
As the last notes of Chuck Berry鈥檚 鈥淛ohnny B. Goode鈥� still hung in the air, Marshall had a notion.
鈥淚 think we鈥檙e ready for the road,鈥� she said. 鈥淪hall we?鈥�