Music Therapy Activates Minds, Bodies at Adult Day Services

Music therapist Beth Rousseau in the courtyard outside the Adult Day Services program, July 2011

“I’d like this music group to be like church,” music therapist Beth Rousseau said as she settled in with her guitar to lead the Adult Day Services “Music With Beth” group. “G-d doesn’t care how you sing and neither do I.” 

“Music With Beth” is now an integral part of Adult Day Services (ADS) programming. A board-certified music therapist, Beth has been involved with ADS off-and-on since 2004; since last January, she’s been coming as an independent contractor.

Beth believes music is for everybody and that her job is to help everyone be successful in making music.

She said, “Singing and making music together improves participants’ social skills, creativity, and motor skills, and it activates both sides of the brain. The program plays into each individual’s strengths.”

Every “Music With Beth” session has a different theme. Recalling the most recent session, ADS Activities Assistant Jennifer Felberg said, “For ‘Scenes That Remind You of Summer’ Beth brought ocean drums and we sang songs about the sea. Every single participant gets involved in their own way.”

As for her own impression of the sessions, Beth said, “We just have a good time.”

Singing the Song of Life at Cedar Sinai Park

All-Star volunteer Barbara Slader, right, leading the Rose Schnitzer Manor Choir's final pre-summer break rehearsal, 6/27/11

The Rose Schnitzer Manor Choir may be on summer hiatus until after Labor Day, but the members’ love of music is everlasting. Choir Director and long-time Cedar Sinai Park volunteer Barbara Slader summed it up nicely: “The Choir gives us all great joy and energy. Everybody feels younger and zippier after rehearsals and performances. People made new friends, we’re a real team and a wonderful community.”

The Choir started at the Manor in mid-2005 after Barbara ran into a pen pal and fellow choral music lover, Malca Muskin, who had just moved to the Manor. They joined forces with volunteers Judy Sibelmann and Sheryl Chomak; Barry Lavine offered to volunteer as a pianist; and Assistant Choir Director Susie Gouz provides an energizing presence.

“Barry plays brilliant jazz piano and makes our music sparkle,” Barbara said. “Susie helps every singer participate and keeps us all energized and smiling.”

Music plays a major part in Barbara’s life: she’s been a singer a choir director for many years and she founded and directed the Jewish Community Chorus.

“I miss the Choir,” Barbara said. “I love music, I love making music with people, and I love helping people sing together. We enjoy singing the great songs of 1930’s and 1940’s, and we’re working up into the 1950’s. We throw in a rock and roll number every once in a while, we’ve sung Muppets songs, the Beach Boys and the Beatles… And we also like to spice it up with something new and exciting, dramatic or theatrical, or something with props, too. The Choir is the high point of the week for all of us. Singing together makes us feel great!”

All-Star Volunteers? They Sing With Us.

Directing the Choir is only one of Barbara’s charges as a Rose Schnitzer Manor volunteer. She also leads the weekly Torah Study group and various services, including the recent Bar Mitzvah for resident Mike Mogell (Barbara is an invested cantor), and her volunteer commitment at Cedar Sinai Park includes spiritual care (chaplaincy).

Though staff and residents have tremendous appreciation for Barbara’s tireless work, resident Jack Straus said it for all of us, “I don’t know how she does it.”

For her part, Barbara has an apt response: “This is the most meaningful, fulfilling, and rewarding work I’ve ever done.”

The Choir’s Monday rehearsals and performances start again the first Monday after Labor Day. Meanwhile, Barbara said, “New singers are welcome!”

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Latin Dance Brightens Robison Living Room

Assistant Activity Director Ann Martinez dances with Robison Jewish Health Center resident Beverly James

“I never thought I’d be dancing again,” said Robison Jewish Health Center resident Elsie Astorga after a recent Latin dance session with Assistant Activity Director Ann Martinez. A new activity at Robison, Latin dance reconnects residents with their dancing years and offers a comprehensive way to engage their minds and bodies.

According to Ann, Latin dance is “a unique way to get people moving in a less structured way.” It supports a broad, full-body range of motion, exercises hand-eye coordination, and supports flexibility and cardiovascular activity. At the same time, it can be done in a modified form from the comfort of a chair or wheelchair, so that everyone can participate.

The upbeat, stimulating nature of salsa, merengue, or cha-cha also creates more interaction between staff, residents, and family members, Ann’s favorite aspect of the activity: “Every staff member or resident or even family member who walks by when we dance stops by and joins us, if only for a few minutes at a time.”

Reconnecting residents with their dancing years is the activity’s additional benefit. “Back in the day, many residents used to go dancing Saturday nights, and they miss it,” Ann said. “Latin dance helps them reconnect with those experiences.”

Thus far, Latin dance sessions have taken place in Robison’s Living Room. Ann plans to take the show to other Robison Neighborhoods. Up next, she said, “we’re going to Miriam Suite.”

Father’s Day with the Red Hot Chachkas

Celebrate Father’s Day with Us and the Red Hot Chachkas!

Sunday, June 20, 1:30 p.m.
Rose Schnitzer Manor, Zidell Hall
6140 SW Boundary Street, Portland

We’re celebrating Father’s Day with the Red Hot Chachkas‘ swings, shakes, and serenades. Hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area, the Chachkas infuse the klezmer tradition of Eastern European Yiddish music with jazz, rock, oldtime, and latin influences.

The Red Hot Chachkas are comprised of multi-talented performers on violin, clarinet, mandolin, accordion, bass, and drums. The group plays traditional Eastern European dance tunes, ranging from frenzied freylekhs to tranquil tantsn, plus many original compositions.

The Red Hot Chachkas are:

• Julie Egger (violin, dance leader, band manager)
• Barbara Speed (clarinet, sax, flute)
• Michael Arrow (drums, percussion)
• Tony Phillips (mandolin)
• Aaron Seeman (accordion)
• Breck Diebel (bass)

Celebrate Father’s Day with Us and the Red Hot Chachkas!
For more information contact Deborah Elliott, RSM Marketing Director
503.525.4004 • deborah.elliott[at]cedarsinaipark.org