| NEA Releases Report on the Arts for Healthy Aging
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| ...From Tennessee Arts Commission News (February), "One in seven Americans is 65 or older, and that number will double by 2020. This monumental demographic shift calls for better resources to promote healthy aging. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Center for Creative Aging (NCCA) released The Summit on Creativity and Aging which offers recommendations for the public and private sectors, noting that the federal government is poised to take a leadership role in fostering change."...From NCCA, "The process of aging is a profound experience marked by increasing phyiscal and emotional change and a heightened search for meaning and purpose. Creative expression is important for older people of all cultures and ethnic backgrounds, regardless of economic status, age, or level of physical, emotional, or cognitive functioning. The arts can serve as a powerful way to engage elders in a creative and healing process of self-expression..."
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| MUSIC FOR SENIORS TO PRESENT AT NCCA's INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AND LEADERSHIP EXCHANGE Washington, D.C., September, 2016 With the report recently released by the National Endowment for the Arts (above), it is certainly exciting and timely for our organization to have been selected from hundreds of applicants world-wide to present at this international conference hosted by the National Center for Creative Aging in September. Together, Matt Bridges, Music for Seniors' Program Director and I will present, "Recreational Music Making: A Powerful Tool for Creating, Connecting, Caregiving." Matt will lead a hands-on percussive arts session with participants playing a variety of drums and hand-held percussion instruments followed by my interactive music-and-singing session. What a wonderful opportunity for us to learn how others across the globe are engaging and inspiring older adults through participation in the arts - and what a thrill to be sharing our unique model of interactive music making with conference participants from around the world! We are honored to have been chosen to present, and we are looking forward to this incredible experience to share, learn, inspire and be inspired! I will report back in the fall - after the conference - and tell you all about it. We also appreciate the Tennessee Arts Commission recognizing our achievement in their February 2, 2016 News post. -- Sarah Martin McConnell
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| Performer Spotlight: Donna Frost Donna Frost is a traveling troubadour, logging thousands of miles each year across the country, one voice, one guitar, one ukulele and many songs & stories. She has released five CD's of her original music since 1998 and is currently promoting her latest CD, "Ukeabilly Mama". "Ukeabilly Mama" is Donna's first all original ukulele music album and it has been well received since it was released in August of 2014. Donna's music draws from many influences: Americana, rock, folk, rockabilly and country. She is a prolific songwriter and has been a recipient of 11 consecutive ASCAPlus awards in the past 11 years for her work as a performing songwriter. Donna was a Kerrville New Folk finalist in 2004. She also has appeared as an extra in episodes of all four seasons of ABC's "Nashville" TV series as well as a number of music videos. She also has worked in 2 feature films to be released soon, "The Body Sculptor" and "The Silver Twins" (her first speaking role). Donna sang harmonies with her dear friend and Grand Ole Opry legend, the late Skeeter Davis, from 1996 til Ms. Davis' death in 2004, and performed "The End of the World" at Skeeter's induction into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in 2013. Donna is currently writing her first book, "Guitars, Ukes and Sequin Boots". In October of 2015, Donna received an artist endorsement from Kamoa Ukulele Company in Hawaii. Donna appears in a story in the winter 2015 issue of Ukulele Magazine along with other members of the Nashville Ukulele Society. She was recently named an ambassador to Ukulele Kids Club, an organization which places ukuleles in hospitals for sick children, and also is very active with Music for Seniors, bringing live music to the elderly.
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| Matt Bridges interviews Donna . . . -) How long have you been working with Music For Seniors? I will be celebrating my one year anniversary working for Music for Seniors next month! And what a blessing it has been!
-) How does performing for seniors groups differ from more "traditional" audiences? The performances for Seniors are so special. It is a joy to see the light in their eyes and the smiles on their faces when I play those songs they love and remember. We go back in time through the songs. And some of them have such beautiful voices too! I live it when they sing along. It is a most unique experience. They are so appreciative of what we do. Music heals and makes a difference! These performances prove that.
-) What are your favorite songs/styles to perform for senior communities? I mix it up with a bit of this and that...songs like Over the Rainbow, You Are.My Sunshine, Tennessee Waltz, it's Only a Paper Moon...old standards like All of Me, Don't Get Around Much Anymore...some old country, Hank, Patsy, Johnny Cash..Country Roads by John Denver is popular, too. Old rock, especially Elvis songs and Buddy Holly. And of course I wrap up my performances with some gospel.
-) Share with us some of your musical inspirations for what you do. My inspirations are many. If you could see my record collection, you'd see! My dear friend, the late Grand Ole Opry legend, Skeeter Davis, was a huge influence on me as a child and I had the honor of singing with her the last 8 years of her life on the road and on the Opry. Like most people my age, I was influenced by the Beatles big time. When I saw them on the Ed Sullivan Show as a child, I knew I wanted to write and perform my own music. The singer songwriters like Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Jim Croce, etc. Bruce Springsteen. Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris. And for my ukulele side, Jake Shimabukuro.
-) If you were stuck on an island, and you magically had electricity, what five CDs or vinyls would just have to have? That is too difficult to narrow down to five! My list would be long. But I will choose 5. Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys, Rubber Soul by the Beatles, Court and Spark by Joni Mitchell, Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen, Tapestry by Carole King.
-) Of all the venues you've played, (outside of senior communities), what was one of your favorites? Way too many to name, but I will share one of the most incredible nights of my career. Skeeter Davis passed away in 2004. In April of 2013, I was invited to perform her biggest hit, "The End of the World" at her induction into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame. I was on the same show with the Kentucky Headhunters, Exile, Jackie DeShannon, Steve Wariner...It was so magical! And it was an honor to represent my dear friend.
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| Music for Seniors is funded in part by:
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Ida F. Cooney
Fund for the Arts | |  |
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| May concert CELEBRATES THE BIG PAYBACK! TUESDAY, MAY 3 2:30 til 3:30
THE UKEDELICS at
FIFTYFORWARD DONELSON STATION 108 DONELSON PIKE Always fun, always free! (RSVP info is below.)
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